Drivers in the Tel Aviv metro area, take note: maintenance and safety work on the KKL Bridge will cause major disruptions for two weeks. In the first phase, westbound-to-eastbound traffic will be blocked, followed by closures in the opposite direction the following week. The Ayalon Highway will stay open, but heavy congestion is expected in the area.
Two weeks of traffic disruptions are coming to the KKL Bridge area in Tel Aviv-Jaffa: Starting Saturday night (August 15), maintenance, rehabilitation, and safety work will begin on the bridge, closing travel lanes alternately in both directions.
The first phase begins Saturday night, August 15, at 11:30 p.m., and runs until Friday, August 21, at 6:00 a.m. During this period, westbound-to-eastbound lanes on the KKL Bridge will be closed as part of work to replace expansion joints in the bridge.
During the closure, the entrance to Highway 20 southbound from the KKL interchange will remain open as usual. Exiting from Ayalon South, drivers will be able to turn right onto KKL Boulevard but won’t be able to turn left onto the bridge. From Ayalon North, a left turn will be possible, and safe pedestrian passage will be maintained on the northern section of the bridge.
What you need to know about the closures (Hebrew)
The disruptions won’t end after the first week. The second phase of work begins the following Saturday night, August 22 at 11:30 p.m., and runs until Friday, August 28 at 6:00 a.m. This time, lanes on the bridge will be closed in the opposite direction—eastbound to westbound. A detailed announcement about traffic arrangements for this phase is expected shortly before work begins.
Despite the bridge closures, the Ayalon Highway itself—Highway 20—will remain open throughout the work period. However, due to expected changes around the interchange, officials estimate heavy traffic congestion will form in the area, and drivers are asked to prepare in advance and use alternative routes.
Public transportation in the area will also be affected by the work, with expected changes to bus routes and station locations in the relevant sections. The work will be carried out with traffic supervisors and in coordination with the Israel Police.
The work is classified as essential safety maintenance and is being advanced by the Transportation Ministry and the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality through Netivei Ayalon, the company that manages the highway. Drivers are advised to check their route in advance and stay updated on changes before heading out.