The Samaria Regional Council announced yesterday (Tuesday) that the first phase of the Route 55 expansion project will open to traffic today (Wednesday). The segment, running between the Alfei Menashe junction and the Tzofim junction, is part of a massive strategic project estimated to cost billions of shekels, with this first segment alone carrying a price tag of roughly 120 million shekels (~$41 million).
1+The construction, carried out by Netivei Israel, the national roads company, included widening the highway to two lanes in each direction, comprehensive safety upgrades, installation of new lighting systems, and safety improvements at the Alfei Menashe junction. The project is expected to represent a significant leap forward in transportation infrastructure in the area and ease traffic congestion for tens of thousands of residents.
Transportation Minister Miri Regev welcomed the highway opening, saying: “We continue to strengthen the settlements with actions, not words. I instructed to advance the project quickly with a clear understanding that Samaria is an inseparable part of the State of Israel, and its residents are also entitled to advanced, safe, and modern infrastructure just like anywhere else in the country.”
1+Finance Minister and Minister in the Defense Ministry Bezalel Smotrich added: “While suicidal Europe tries to harm the settlements, we are establishing facts on the ground. After October 7, even the last skeptics understand that establishing a Palestinian state in the heart of the land is an existential danger. Our decisive Zionist answer is deepening our roots.”
Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan described the event as “a historic day and strategic step on the road to a million residents in Samaria.” According to him, “Upgrading Route 55 is not just a transportation and safety solution, but a clear declaration: Samaria is the heart of the state, and the infrastructure in it will be among the most advanced in Israel. I thank the ministers for their deep commitment.”
The heads of the Karnei Shomron, Alfei Menashe, and Kedumim councils also welcomed the move and emphasized its importance for strengthening infrastructure, improving safety and accessibility, and continuing the development momentum of Jewish settlement in the area. The project is part of a broader master plan that includes, among other things, planning for a future direct connection of Route 55 to Highway 6.