Highway 44 (Israel)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Highway 44 is a highway in central Israel. It connects Tel Aviv-Yafo to Ramla, Lod and the Shefela. It begins in Tel Aviv in the north and ends at Nachshon and Shimshon junction near Beit Shemesh in the south.
This road operated for many years before Highway 1 was built as the main route from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Even today, it serves as one of the main routes to Latrun and from there to Sha'ar HaGai. Even though many people believe it is an east-west road because it is even-numbered, it really is a north-south road. The mistake derives from the fact that Highway 44 intersects with many east-west roads, including the Ayalon Highway, Highway 4, and Route 412.
[edit] Description of the route
Highway 44 begins at Holon interchange on the Ayalon Highway and passes by Mikve Yisrael and Holon and Azor. It crosses Highway 4 at HaShiv'a interchange (HaShiv'a means the seven people). Here the route is called HaShiv'a road.
Southeast of HaShiv'a interchange the road crosses Beit Dagan junction with route 412, which connects it with Rishon Letzion and Yehud. Highway 44 continues southeast to this junction as it passes Wolkani Institute, the Tzrifin military base, and Asaf HaRofe Hospital. From there it continues to the outskirts of Ramla and Ramlod junction.
From Ramlod junction the road continues past several junctions (one to Petah Tikva and another to Rehovot) beyond the Ramla Nesher factory for the manufacture of malt, one of the most impressive landmarks in the area. Afterwards, Nesharim interchange connects with Highway 6. The road itself continues to Nahshon junction south of Latrun, and passes near the communities of Taoz, Harel, and the forests of Eshtaol and HaNasi until it ends at Shimshon junction.
[edit] Interchanges and junctions on the route
| Kilometers | Name | Location | Intersecting routes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | מחלף חולון (Holon Interchange) |
Holon |  Ayalon Highway/Ben-Zvi Road |
| 2 | Holon and Azor Industrial Zone | Holon/Azor | HaMakhtesh Street |
| 2.7 | צומת אזור (Azor Junction) |
Azor | Herzl Street |
| 3 | Holon and Azor Entrances | Holon/Azor | HaMelakha Street/Ehad BeMai Street |
| 3.5 | Azor Entrance | Azor | Kaplan Street |
| 4.5 | מחלף השבעה (HaShiv'a Interchange) |
Mishmar HaShiv'a |  Highway 4 (Israel) |
| 5 | Mishmar HaShiv'a Entrance | Mishmar HaShiv'a | |
| 5.5 | צומת בית דגן (Beit Dagan Junction) |
Beit Dagan |  Route 412 (Israel) |
| 8.5 | צומת כפר חב"ד (Kfar Chabad Junction) |
Kfar Habad | Route 4402 |
| 9 | Rishon LeZion Eastern Entrance | Rishon LeZion | Chaim Herzog Road |
| 9.5 | צומת צריפין (Tzrifin Junction) |
Tzrifin | Asaf HaRofe Hospital and Camp Yadin |
| 11.8 | צומת ניר צבי (Nir Zvi Junction) |
Nir Tzvi | Local road |
| 13.5 | צומת רמלה צפון (Ramla North Junction) |
Ramla | Herzl Boulevard |
| 15.5 | צומת תעבורה (Ta'avura Junction) |
Ramla | Route 434 |
| 16 | מחלף רמלוד (Ramlod Interchange) |
Ramla |  Highway 40 (Israel) |
| 16.8 | צומת גזר (Gezer Junction) |
Ramla | Har Atzmon Street |
| 17.7 | מחלף נשרים (Nesharim Interchange) |
Yad Rambam |   Highway 6 (Israel)/Route 424 |
| 23.2 | צומת פתחיה (Ptahia Junction) |
Petahia | Route 4243 |
| 29 | צומת נחשון (Nahshon Junction) |
Tal Shahar |  Highway 3 (Israel) |
| 39.2 | צומת שמשון (Shimshon Junction) |
Eshtaol |  Highway 38 (Israel) |
