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Highway 40 (Israel)
Encyclopedia
Highway 40 is a north-south intercity road in Israel
. At 302 km long, it is the second longest highway in Israel, after Highway 90. The highway runs from Kfar Sava in the center of Israel to the Arabah
in the south, serving as a main connection between central Israel and Be'er Sheva.
, about 50 km north of Eilat as a two-lane undivided road. It then continues north, winding through the mountains of the southern Negev
. This section includes the "Meishar", which is a completely straight and leveled 12 km stretch of road. The highway descends into the Ramon Crater
, crosses it and then ascends 250 meters along "Ma'ale HaAtzmaut" to reach Mitzpe Ramon
. From Mitzpe Ramon the highway continues past Ramon Air Force Base
and Sde Boker
.
The section between Ketura and Sde Boker is a scenic route, and some drivers use this road when driving to Eilat because it provides more attractions and scenery, as opposed to highway 90 which is considered to be safer and faster.
From Sde Boker the highway continues past numerous Bedouin
settlements and the Ramat Hovav
industrial area. Between Nokdim Junction and Goral Junction the highway forms an eastern bypass of Be'er Sheva, also passing Omer
and the Bedouin towns of Shaqib al-Salam
and Tel as-Sabi. From Goral Junction the highway continues as a dual-carriageway four lane road, passing Lehavim
, Rahat
and Kiryat Gat.
_at_the_ramon_crater.jpg)
North of Kiryat Malakhi, the highway merges with Highway 3
for 4 km to Re'em Junction. This short section has six lanes (three in each direction). It then continues as a four lane road, passing through Gedera
and past Tel Nof Air Force Base
and Rehovot
. Between Matzliah Junction and Gesher Lod Junction it forms an eastern bypass of Ramle and Lod
.
At El Al
Junction the highway turns left towards Ben Gurion International Airport
and immediately right at a roundabout
. It is then downgraded in size to two lanes until IAI Junction, where it becomes a four lane divided carriageway once again. The highway then continues through Petah Tikva
and bypasses Hod HaSharon
before terminating at an intersection with Highway 55
in Kfar Sava.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. At 302 km long, it is the second longest highway in Israel, after Highway 90. The highway runs from Kfar Sava in the center of Israel to the Arabah
Arabah
The Arabah , also known as Aravah, is a section of the Great Rift Valley running in a north-south orientation between the southern end of the Sea of Galilee down to the Dead Sea and continuing further south where it ends at the Gulf of Aqaba. It includes most of the border between Israel to the...
in the south, serving as a main connection between central Israel and Be'er Sheva.
Route description
The highway starts at an intersection with Highway 90 near KeturaKetura (Kibbutz)
Ketura is a kibbutz north of Eilat in the Arabah rift valley. "Ketura" is the name of a hill nearby and the name of the second wife of Abraham . It has approximately 130 members and 150 children...
, about 50 km north of Eilat as a two-lane undivided road. It then continues north, winding through the mountains of the southern Negev
Negev
The Negev is a desert and semidesert region of southern Israel. The Arabs, including the native Bedouin population of the region, refer to the desert as al-Naqab. The origin of the word Neghebh is from the Hebrew root denoting 'dry'...
. This section includes the "Meishar", which is a completely straight and leveled 12 km stretch of road. The highway descends into the Ramon Crater
Makhtesh Ramon
Makhtesh Ramon is a geological feature of Israel's Negev desert. Located at the peak of Mount Negev, some 85 km south of the city of Beersheba, the landform is not actually an impact crater from a meteor, but rather is the world's largest makhtesh. The crater is 40 km long, 2-10 km wide and 500...
, crosses it and then ascends 250 meters along "Ma'ale HaAtzmaut" to reach Mitzpe Ramon
Mitzpe Ramon
Mitzpe Ramon is a town in the Negev desert of southern Israel. It is situated on the northern ridge at an elevation of 860 meters overlooking a sizable erosion cirque known as the Ramon Crater.-History:...
. From Mitzpe Ramon the highway continues past Ramon Air Force Base
Ramon Airbase
Ramon Airbase is an Israeli Air Force base southwest of Beersheba, near the town of Mitzpe Ramon. Also titled Kanaf 25 , it was formerly known as Matred. It was built as the result of joint Israeli and US government funding as part of the IAF's redeployment out of its bases in the Sinai after the...
and Sde Boker
Sde Boker
Sde Boker is a kibbutz in the Negev desert of southern Israel. Best known as the retirement home of Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, it falls under the jurisdiction of Ramat HaNegev Regional Council.-History:...
.
The section between Ketura and Sde Boker is a scenic route, and some drivers use this road when driving to Eilat because it provides more attractions and scenery, as opposed to highway 90 which is considered to be safer and faster.
From Sde Boker the highway continues past numerous Bedouin
Bedouin
The Bedouin are a part of a predominantly desert-dwelling Arab ethnic group traditionally divided into tribes or clans, known in Arabic as ..-Etymology:...
settlements and the Ramat Hovav
Ramat Hovav
Ramat Hovav is an industrial zone in southern Israel and the site of Israel's main hazardous waste disposal facility. Ramat Hovav Industrial Zone is the locus of 19 chemical factories, including Makhteshim Agan, a pesticide plant; Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, a pharmaceuticals plant; Israel...
industrial area. Between Nokdim Junction and Goral Junction the highway forms an eastern bypass of Be'er Sheva, also passing Omer
Omer, Israel
Omer is a town in the South District of Israel, bordering Beersheba. It is located on Highway 60, between Beersheba and the Shoket Junction. Pini Badash has served as head of its local council since 1990....
and the Bedouin towns of Shaqib al-Salam
Shaqib al-Salam
Shaqib al-Salam or Segev Shalom is a Bedouin town and a local council in the South District of Israel, southeast of Beersheba.According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics , the population of Shaqib was 6,500 in December 2006...
and Tel as-Sabi. From Goral Junction the highway continues as a dual-carriageway four lane road, passing Lehavim
Lehavim
Lehavim is a town in the Southern District of Israel, in the northern Negev desert. Founded in 1983, it is located 15 km north of Beersheba. In 2009, the population was 6,000. -History:...
, Rahat
Rahat
Rahat is a predominantly Bedouin city in the South District of Israel. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics , at the end of 2009 the city had a total population of 51,700...
and Kiryat Gat.
Highway 3 (Israel)
Highway 3 is a highway in Israel. It begins at Beit Horon junction with Highway 443 near Modi'in, it passes through Kiryat Malakhi, and it ends a junction with Highway 4 on the outskirts of Ashkelon.- Plan for the future :...
for 4 km to Re'em Junction. This short section has six lanes (three in each direction). It then continues as a four lane road, passing through Gedera
Gedera
-External links:** *...
and past Tel Nof Air Force Base
Tel Nof Airbase
Tel Nof Israeli Air Force , also known as Air Force Base 8, is one of three principal airbases of the Israeli Air Force. Tel Nof is located near Rehovot, Israel.-History:...
and Rehovot
Rehovot
Rehovot is a city in the Center District of Israel, about south of Tel Aviv. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics , at the end of 2009 the city had a total population of 112,700. Rehovot's official website estimates the population at 114,000.Rehovot was built on the site of Doron,...
. Between Matzliah Junction and Gesher Lod Junction it forms an eastern bypass of Ramle and Lod
Lod
Lod is a city located on the Sharon Plain southeast of Tel Aviv in the Center District of Israel. At the end of 2010, it had a population of 70,000, roughly 75 percent Jewish and 25 percent Arab.The name is derived from the Biblical city of Lod...
.
At El Al
El Al
El Al Israel Airlines Ltd , trading as El Al , is the flag carrier of Israel. It operates scheduled domestic and international services and cargo flights to Europe, North America, Africa and the Far East from its main base in Ben Gurion International Airport...
Junction the highway turns left towards Ben Gurion International Airport
Ben Gurion International Airport
Ben Gurion International Airport , also referred to by its Hebrew acronym Natbag , is the largest and busiest international airport in Israel, handling 12,160,339 passengers in 2010...
and immediately right at a roundabout
Roundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
. It is then downgraded in size to two lanes until IAI Junction, where it becomes a four lane divided carriageway once again. The highway then continues through Petah Tikva
Petah Tikva
Petah Tikva known as Em HaMoshavot , is a city in the Center District of Israel, east of Tel Aviv.According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, at the end of 2009, the city's population stood at 209,600. The population density is approximately...
and bypasses Hod HaSharon
Hod HaSharon
Hod HaSharon is a city in the Center District of Israel.Officially declared a city in 1990, Hod HaSharon was created from the union in 1964 of four neighboring villages: Magdiel, Ramatayim, Hadar, and Ramat Hadar...
before terminating at an intersection with Highway 55
Highway 55 (Israel)
Highway 55 is an east-west highway in central Israel. Its Western terminus is in Kfar Sava, and it continues east to Nablus.The road passes near Qalqilya, Alfei Menashe, Azzun, Karnei Shomron and Kedumim, and ends in Nablus....
in Kfar Sava.