Shoket Interchange

Shoket Interchange
מחלף שוקת
The Shoket Interchange
Map
Location
Bnei Shimon Regional Council
Roads at
junction		Highway 6
Highway 31
Highway 60
Construction
OpenedNovember–December 2016 (2016)

Shoket Interchange is an interchange in the Negev located between Beersheba and Meitar. It is the southern terminus of Highway 6,[1][2] Israel's central and longest controlled-access highway, also known as the Trans-Israel Highway. Since the continuation of Highway 6 has been suspended,[3][4] it is unknown if and when the Shoket Interchange will stop being the terminus of Highway 6.

At the Shoket Interchange, Highway 6 connects with Highway 31 and Highway 60 at two different locations. The distance between Interchange Shoket South and Interchange Shoket West is 3.4 kilometers.[5] The distance from Shoket West to the nearby Lakiya Interchange is 4.0 kilometers.[5] The interchange is named after the nearby located Tel Shoket.

The Shoket Interchange opened to traffic in November–December 2016 upon the opening of Highway 6 between Shoket Interchange and Lakiya Interchange, after it was initially planned to open in 2015.[6][7][8] The southern section opened in November 2016, the "western" section in December. (note that the "west" section is actually slightly east of the south section) The Lakiya diamond interchange to the northwest was opened in April 2016.[9]

Interchange structure

The interchange is divided into two parts:

In the southern part, Highway 6 from the north connects to Highway 60 towards the west only. Passengers from Highway 60 west to Highway 6 to the north will exit at the interchange to the connector (ramp) passing over a bridge above Highway 60.

In the northern part, Highway 31 passes over Highway 6 on a bridge. Those coming from Highway 31 from the east to Highway 6 to the north will do so by a simple connector that curves from Highway 31 to Highway 6. Those coming from Highway 6 from the north to Highway 6 to the east will do so by a connector in the form of a loop, of more than 270 degrees, that leaves Highway 6 and connects to Highway 31.

All other possible turns at the interchange are made through the Shoket Junction, renamed Meitar Interchange,[10] located east of the Shoket Interchange that connects Highway 31 to Highway 60. This is a diamond intersection with traffic lights on Highway 60.[11]

Future development

The continuation of Highway 6 is planned but suspended from the Shoket Interchange south, towards Nevatim Interchange, where it would connect to Highway 25. In the southern part of the interchange, areas were left for the future connectors at the interchange after the extension of Highway 6 southbound.

In addition, there is a plan to build the Shoket Industrial Park near the Meitar Interchange and the Shoket Interchange.[12] This industrial park will serve as a central employment and industrial center for the residents of the region.[13] Also adjacent to the Shoket Interchange, will be the currently constructed Likit national intelligence center of Israel that may become accessible also by heavy rail.[14][15]

References

  1. ^ Kane, Hadar (10 March 2022). "חוב של 16 שקל התעצם ל-1,600 שקל: שיטת הגבייה של כביש 6 חוצה צפון". TheMarker (in Hebrew). Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  2. ^ Kane, Hadar (22 March 2022). "בעקבות הביקורת על שיטת הגבייה: בכביש 6 צפון עורכים מבצע לסגירת חובות". TheMarker (in Hebrew). Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  3. ^ Bar-Meir, Oded (3 November 2022). "פרויקט כביש 6 לכיוון דרום הוקפא: 'פגיעה חמורה בעתיד הנגב'". MyNet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 19 January 2023. המשך סלילת כביש 6 בקטע שבין צומת שוקת לנבטים נדחק הצידה לטובת מיזמים אחרים. ראש עיריית דימונה, בני ביטון, פנה לשרת התחבורה: "דורש לתקצב מיד את את הפרויקט". משרד התחבורה: "מתבצעים שורה ארוכה של פרויקטים בדרום, לקראת התקציב הבא יישקל מחדש תקצוב הארכת הכביש"
  4. ^ Reichner, Elyashiv (27 October 2022). "השרה של גוש דן: מרב מיכאלי פוגעת שוב ושוב בתושבי הדרום והפריפריה". Makor Rishon (in Hebrew). Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  5. ^ a b "מפת מחלפים כביש 6". Rosh HaAyin: Derech Eretz.
  6. ^ Schwartz, Yoel (20 May 2013). "קטע 21 של כביש 6 יוצא לדרך". Auto (in Hebrew). Retrieved 19 January 2023. משרד התחבורה פרסם מכרז נוסף להארכת כביש 6 דרומה. מדובר במכרז שלישי מתוך שלושה עבור 'קטע 21': מחלף לקייה ועד מחלף שוקת
  7. ^ "רה"מ לקח קרדיט על הקמת כביש 6. כמה קילומטרים נסללו בתקופתו?". Globes (in Hebrew). 8 April 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  8. ^ "New Road 6 Negev section opens". Globes (in Hebrew). 1 December 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  9. ^ "New Negev section of Road 6 opens Thursday night". Globes. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  10. ^ Roeh, Anat (20 January 2021). "מחר ייפתח לתנועה מחלף מיתר החדש: מערד לתל אביב ללא רמזורים". Calcalist (in Hebrew). Retrieved 19 January 2023. המחלף החדש מחובר לכביש 6 , והוא כולל שדרוג הכבישים באזור והקמת גשר חדש על כביש 31. בהקמתו הושקעו כ-227 מיליון שקל והיא נמשכה שנתיים
  11. ^ Shiff, Ben (25 December 2015). "תקועים בפקקים- תושבי מיתר ממתינים לפתרונות תחבורתיים". Walla! (in Hebrew). Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  12. ^ Golan, Gadi (12 July 2001). "35 מיליון דולר יושקעו בהקמת איזור תעשייה ליד צומת שוקת בנגב". Globes (in Hebrew). Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  13. ^ Sol, Yaniv (21 May 2018). "תכירו: אזור התעשייה המשותף צומת שוקת". Sheva (in Hebrew). Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  14. ^ Cuenca, Oliver (13 August 2020). "Israel announces Likit rail link plans". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  15. ^ Bar-Meir, Oded (25 October 2021). "בהשקעה של 100 מיליון שקל: קריית המודיעין בליקית יוצאת לדרך". MyNet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 20 January 2023.