Route 5 Express Lanes Project: Five Consortia Submit Bids
The bidders include Shikun & Binui, Electra, and Denya Sibbus • The project features a two-way express lane along Route 5 between Kessem and Glilot East.
Yaniv Formansky February 15, 2026
Five consortia, comprised of Israeli and international firms with extensive infrastructure and transportation experience, have submitted bids for the construction and operation of the Route 5 Express Lanes venture. The five groups are: Minrav and Bon Tour; Electra; Denya Sibbus in partnership with Dan; Shapir Civil Engineering; and Shikun & Binui in partnership with Egged Holding. The evaluation phase is expected to conclude in the coming months.
The project involves the construction of a two-way express lane along Route 5 on the segment between the Kessem Interchange and Glilot East. Adjacent to this, a major Integrated Transport Hub (ITH) will be built at the Kessem Interchange, featuring approximately 3,200 parking spaces. This hub will allow commuters to park their private vehicles outside the metropolitan area and continue their journey via public transit or a dedicated, free shuttle service to major employment centers in Gush Dan. The project is slated to open to traffic within approximately five years.
The goal of the Route 5 Express Lanes is to encourage a shift from private vehicles to public transportation and mass transit, thereby shortening commute times and reducing traffic congestion. The project will connect to the express lane network on Routes 20 (Ayalon) and 2 (the Coastal Road)—which is expected to open this coming March—creating a continuous network of express lanes to ease congestion across the Tel Aviv metropolis.
The project is being advanced through the inter-ministerial tender committee for the financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of express lanes, headed by Oshrat David-Deker, Senior Deputy to the Accountant General. The committee includes representatives from the Ministries of Transport and Finance, Ayalon Highways, and the government-owned Inbal Company. Executed as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), the chosen concessionaire will be responsible for financing, planning, building, and operating the project for a 25-year term, after which responsibility will revert to the State.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich: “The submission of bids for the Route 5 Express Lanes is great news for the citizens of Israel. We continue to invest in smart infrastructure that saves time, reduces congestion, and strengthens the economy. The PPP method allows us to leverage the capabilities of the private sector without relinquishing full state responsibility—creating advanced, efficient, and cost-effective transport solutions for the public. A continuous express network at the entrances to Gush Dan is not just a transport project—it is a national growth engine. Less time in traffic means more time for family, work, and life.”
Minister of Transport and Road Safety, Brig. Gen. (Res.) Miri Regev: “The Route 5 Express Lanes project is another strategic move in the policy led by the Ministry of Transport to reduce congestion at the entrances to the Gush Dan metropolis and strengthen public transit. We are continuing to expand the express lane network, linking national projects and creating a true alternative to the private car—all for the sake of shortening travel times, improving quality of life, and bolstering the Israeli economy.”
Director General of the Ministry of Transport, Moshe Ben-Zaken: “The submission of bids marks significant progress toward realizing one of the most important transportation projects in Israel. This is a complex, large-scale project advanced through cooperation between government ministries and the private sector, expected to significantly improve the accessibility, efficiency, and attractiveness of public transport in the Gush Dan metropolis.”
CEO of Ayalon Highways, Orly Stern: “This tender stage marks an important milestone. The express lanes from Kessem Junction to Route 20 will be integrated and connected to the express lane project opening soon.”