The central section of Route 60 connecting the Gush Etzion regional bloc to Jerusalem is scheduled to open partially to vehicular traffic on Sunday night, with full operational capacity expected by the end of the week. The Moriah Jerusalem Development Company is carrying out the extensive infrastructure upgrade for the Ministry of Transport.
The newly constructed two-kilometer section joins the already completed northern and southern segments, which span a combined 4.5 kilometers and are operating in their final widened format. The opening of this central link is set to eliminate a notorious, persistent bottleneck along the thoroughfare, which carries tens of thousands of commuters daily between Gush Etzion, Mount Hebron, and the capital, while significantly improving traffic safety and security along the corridor.
As part of the wider project—budgeted at approximately NIS 490 million—Moriah is also advancing the upgrade of the Efrat North Junction and the grade separation of the Hashayarot Junction, which includes an underpass along Route 60. The sunken junction and underpass are slated to open to traffic in the first quarter of 2027.