40 Years After The Hanochas E’vn Hapina: Boring Of The Light Rail Train Tunnel At Gush Dan Begins

Boring of the underground section of the light rail train in the Tel-Aviv area was launched today. The giant boring machine, known as the ‘TBM’ (‘Tunnel boring Machine’) started drilling under the stock exchange in Ramat Gan making its way towards Tel Aviv.

The monstrous machine is making its way west and then south, at the pace of 10 meters a day, while simultaneously pasting the tunnel walls with concrete.
The tunnel stage of the project is expected to be completed in two years’ time. There are currently 4 TBM’s operating in Israel, and another 4 are expected to go into operation in the near future.

The next machine is set to begin boring in two months.

In the next few months the rest of the machines will be introduced to the project and start the drilling process from the same location, but will head east towards Petch Tikvah.

The red track of the light-rail train will open for traffic in 2021, and will run along a 24-kilometer track between Petach-Tikvah and Bat Yam, making the entire Gush Dan area more accessible. The bulk of the trains route will be underground, running for 12 kilometers between Tel-Aviv and the Geyha interchange.

Minister of transportation, Yisroel Kats, held a press conference today in honor of the opening of the tunnels construction: “Initiating of the light-rail train is a genuine example of decision making” Said Kats.

“The magnitude of problems and hurdles in this project deterred many, and prevented implementation of this transportation challenge for over four decades”.

At the press conference, it was revealed that the first TBM in use was dubbed ‘Golda’ after the late prime minister Golda Meir, who laid the foundation for the project over 40 years ago-but it has been delayed until now.

Translated by Eli B.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!