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Photo: Shaul Golan

Tel Aviv light rail delays dozens of construction projects

Engineers Association official estimates damage due to unnecessary hurdles will exceed NIS 20 billion in 20 years

Many engineers working on large-scale planning projects in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area have experienced delays in recent months due to coordination issues caused by the NTA, a government company charged with constructing the light rail in the central Israeli city.

 

According to Israel David, the acting chairman of the Israel Engineers Association, all the projects in proximity to the light rail's route have been compromised by restrictions imposed by the NTA – measures that delay construction schedules and raise costs by millions of shekels for each project.

 

Ever since NTA became yet another authority that stands between developers and the coveted construction permits, David said, regulations have changed – particularly the ones relating to underground construction methods.

 

Many contractors have suggested technical solutions to make sure that current building methods will not impair future rail works, but NTA refused to listen, he added.

 

There are currently 30 projects along the light rail route, some of which are under construction, while they others are still in the planning stages, Calcalist has learned. All have been affected by the NTA's restrictions, including the Hagag Group's Meier on Rothschild Tower and the Amot Tower in Ramat Gan. 

 

David estimated that on average, each project will incur a NIS 30 million ($8 million) cost increase, asserting that the problem will recur in every future project near the route. In total, the sum may exceed in NIS 20 billion ($5.3 billion) over the next 20 years. "Eventually the citizens of Israel are those who will pay this price, when the costs of these properties will rise," he said.

 

A senior official in a large real estate firm said that the future implications of these regulations will result in cancellation of projects due to infeasibility.

 

The NTA said in response that the current methods using anchors for underground construction near the route impair the possibility of future rail construction in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area.

 

Tunneling equipment cannot cross the anchors, and hitting an anchor can damage a machine. Any other solution that will not harm the execution of the project will be approved by NTA, according to the statement.

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 04.22.12, 13:52
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