- Malakhi Junction
-
Restaurant complex displaying the famous Qastina sign (after renovation)
The Malakhi Junction, also known as Qastina (Hebrew: קסטינה) for the Arab village which once stood there, is a major road junction in Israel, between Highway 40 and 3. It is located on the 37th kilometer of Highway 3.
Like most junctions in Israel, it serves as a major transportation hub and has a trempiada, or hitchhiking stand. Due to its proximity to Kiryat Malakhi, it is also sometimes considered Kiryat Malakhi's central bus station, operated by the Be'er Tuvia Regional Council. In that capacity however, it has been often criticized, to the point that Ynet uses a photo of the bus stations in Qastina as a stock photo for public transportation critiques. In a March 2007 survey, Ynet gave Qastina a 0/10 rating (the lowest) out of 11 bus station checked nationwide.[1] On March 1, 2008, the Israeli Channel 2 ran a similar survey, ranking Qastina lowest, with 0/3 on its three main criteria.[2]
In addition, the junction is a common stop for Israelis travelling between the north/center of the country (Haifa, Tel Aviv) to the south (Beersheba, Eilat), a fact that helps maintain several fast food and other small stores.
During the October 2000 events, Arab citizens burned tires and threw rocks at passing buses at the junction.[3]
Contents
Bus lines
Road map of the junction, showing the bus movement
Map showing the locations of bus stations on the junctionFollowing is a list of bus lines which stop in the junction's terminal.
Line Route Via Company 301 Tel Aviv CBS - Ashkelon CBS Rishon LeZion old CBS, Rehovot CBS, Gedera CBS, Malakhi Junction, Kiryat Gat CBS Egged 310 Tel Aviv CBS - Ashkelon CBS Yavne CBS, Malakhi Junction, Kiryat Gat CBS Egged 351 Tel Aviv CBS - Beersheba CBS Rishon LeZion old CBS, Rehovot CBS, Gedera CBS, Malakhi Junction, Sderot, Netivot Metropoline 367 Tel Aviv CBS - Beersheba CBS Rishon LeZion old CBS, Rehovot CBS, Gedera CBS, Malakhi Junction, Kiryat Gat CBS Metropoline 369 Tel Aviv CBS - Beersheba CBS Yavne CBS, Malakhi Junction, Kiryat Gat CBS Metropoline 369א Tel Aviv 2000 Terminal - Beersheba CBS Yavne CBS, Malakhi Junction, Kiryat Gat CBS Metropoline 371 Tel Aviv CBS - Beersheba CBS Rishon LeZion old CBS, Rehovot CBS, Gedera CBS, Malakhi Junction, Kiryat Gat CBS Metropoline 376 Tel Aviv CBS - Tze'elim Gedera CBS, Malakhi Junction, Kiryat Gat CBS, Ofakim Egged 389 Tel Aviv CBS - Arad Malakhi Junction Egged 393 Tel Aviv CBS - Eilat CBS Rishon LeZion old CBS, Rehovot CBS, Gedera CBS, Malakhi Junction, Beersheba CBS, Dimona CBS Egged 3941 Eilat CBS - Tel Aviv CBS Dimona CBS, Beersheba CBS, Malakhi Junction Egged 3951 Mitzpe Ramon - Tel Aviv CBS Beersheba CBS, Malakhi Junction Egged 437 Jerusalem CBS - Ashkelon CBS Malakhi Junction Egged 441 Arad CBS - Jerusalem CBS1 2 Malakhi Junction Egged 443 Jerusalem CBS - Netivot Malakhi Junction, Sderot Egged 446 Jerusalem CBS - Beersheba CBS Malakhi Junction, Kiryat Gat CBS Egged 449 Ofakim - Jerusalem CBS1 2 Kiryat Gat CBS - Malakhi Junction Egged 991 Eilat CBS - Haifa Hof HaCarmel CBS1 Netanya CBS, Hadera CBS Egged 1 – stops in the terminal in one direction only
2 – Sundays onlyRoad accidents
In the beginning of 2010, Ayelet Malko suffered fatal injuries after being run over while crossing the junction. This contributed to a decision to build a pedestrian bridge in the area, which should be completed by the end of 2010.[4]
Plans
The National Roads Company of Israel is planning to upgrade the junction to an interchange.[4]
See also
- Transportation in Israel
References
- ^ Donner, Shlomi (2007-03-09). "A Check on Central Bus Stations - Third World Level" (in Hebrew). Ynet. http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3373482,00.html.
- ^ "A Journey to the Past - The State of the Central Bus Stations in Israel (video)" (in Hebrew). 2008-03-01. http://www.reshet.tv/newsite/news/%D7%9B%D7%9C%D7%9B%D7%9C%D7%94/%D7%AA%D7%97%D7%A0%D7%94%20%D7%9E%D7%A8%D7%9B%D7%96%D7%99%D7%AA.aspx. Retrieved 2008-03-01.[dead link]
- ^ "October 2000 events timeline" (in Hebrew). Israel Court Protocols. http://elyon1.court.gov.il/heb/veadot/or/inside2.htm. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
- ^ a b Jan, Eli (June 9, 2010). "Interchange for Qastina Junction Approved". Mynet. Ynet. http://www.mynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3901935,00.html. Retrieved 2010-07-24. (Hebrew)
Coordinates: 31°43′54.67″N 34°45′24.53″E / 31.7318528°N 34.7568139°E
Categories:- Junctions in Israel
- South District (Israel)
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