CARMEL Tunnels Accesses

Project Name
The CARMEL Tunnels Accesses
Field of Activity
Final Design
Specialization
Metropolitan and Urban Projects
Client
YEFE NOF Ltd.
Location
Israel
Project Duration
1999-ongoing
Project Cost
UD$ 35 million
Services Provided:
  • Detailed survey and mapping of the planned route path and its adjacent areas.
  • Detailed physical design of main accesses routes and adjacent roads.
  • Detailed traffic geometrical design.
  • Detailed design of all aspects related to: hydrology, roads drainage, culverts, drainage channels, etc., including preparation of a hydrological report.
  • Coordination of all sub-consultants in numerous fields of expertise, such as: construction (bridges, culverts), illumination, landscape and environmental aspects, soil engineering, road safety.

Haifa, Israel third largest city, is located on the west-northern slopes of the Carmel Mountain. The Haifa Metropolitan Area extends mainly to north and east of the city, covering about 15 different cities, towns and localities, administratively organized as independent municipalities and regional councils. However, there are strong commuting ties between these population centers and the city of Haifa as the metropolitan core. The Carmel Tunnels project is aimed to provide a major direct connection between the northern and southern parts of the metropolitan area, thus enabling an enhanced traveling option from north to south and vice versa.

The Carmel Mountain that Haifa is located on consists of the east-west mountain blocks, partially separated by a deep north-south running gorge. Typical height of each mountain block reaches about 250m.
The Carmel Tunnels project consists of a pair of two-lane motor vehicle tunnels, in total of circa 4.5km in length. These tunnels are divided into two segments: the eastern segment is planned to start on the northern hillside of the eastern Carmel mountain, emerging in the middle of the aforementioned gorge. At this zone, a complex interchange located on very steep hillsides is planned, to interconnect the two twin tunnels link to Haifa arterial road system. From there, it is intended to penetrate the western mountain block as the tunnels western segment, emerging at its western slope and connecting to the main coastal freeway which leads down south to the Tel Aviv Metropolitan Area.
 
The tunnels are intended to be constructed as a BOT project and operated as a toll facility with automated toll collection (no toll plaza).
The project discussed below consists of the design of accesses to the western tunnels segment:
  • The western access will link the tunnels outlet to Haifa southern developed area and, at the same time, with main coastal freeway.
  • The central access will provide a connection between the tunnels' two segments, while also interconnecting them to Haifa arterial road system.
TEDEM was chosen as the principal designer for the accesses to the CARMEL TUNNELS western segment, including the integration of all other multidisciplinary consultants participating in the planning process. In parallel; TEDEM integrates its work with other consulting firms responsible for other components of the entire project.

Carmel Tunnels Western Access Layout
 

Carmel Tunnels Central Interchange Layout
 

 
 
 
Carmel Tunnels Western Access
(in construction - August 2006)
  
 
Carmel Tunnels Western Access
(simulated imaging)
 

Eastern Access

The eastern access to the tunnels western segment connects it to the city arterial road system, to adjacent activities and to the eastern tunnels segment. This is accomplished by a complex interchange – the SIMHA GOLAN interchange – located in the ROSHMIYA gorge.
The SIMHA GOLAN interchange is a complex of viaducts, bridges and ramps located on the slopes of the ROSHMIYA gorge surrounding hills. It is design as a three level structure. Typical cross section of main roads is of a dual carriageway with 2-4 lanes in each direction; typical cross section for ramps is a one way single lane facility.

The total length of roads within TEDEM's scope in the tunnels western segment interchange is about 2.2 km, with total length of bridges over 100m. Maximum bridge height is circa 20m.
  

Carmel Tunnels Central
interconnecting SIMCHA GOLAN
Interchange (simulated imaging)

Western Access

The western access connects the tunnels to National Route No. 2 (the Coastal Freeway) and to Highway No. 4. Both roads 2 & 4 merge at the vicinity of the tunnels' access with the main southern access to Haifa downtown (northbound direction, known as HAGANA Road) and with Haifa southern suburbs, the MATAM industrial park and neighboring commercial and residential areas:
  • National Route No. 2 is a dual 2x2 lane carriageway designed as a freeway, commonly known as Israel Coastal Road, serving as a primary connection between the Haifa region and the Tel Aviv Metropolitan Area.

 

  • National Route No. 4 is a two lane highway running parallel to Route No. 2, serving local communities located along its alignment. It is planned to be upgraded to a dual 2x2 carriageway.
  • The HAGANA Road is the Haifa sole southern access, formed by merging of Routes 2 & 4. It is a dual 2x3 lanes carriageway, continuing northbound to the Haifa downtown area.
Total length of the western access is about 4 km, integrated with viaducts and interchanges.

In the framework of its role in the project, TEDEM has been providing the following services:
  • Detailed survey and mapping of the planned route path and its adjacent areas.
  • Detailed physical design of main and adjacent roads.
  • Detailed design of all aspects related to: hydrology, hydraulics, roads drainage, drainage, culverts, drainage channels, etc., including the preparation of a detailed hydrological report.
  • Coordination of the layout for existing and planned infrastructure systems (including relocation, when applicable), such as: power lines (overhead and underground), communications, gas and oil, water supply, sewerage, etc.
  • Design of retaining walls.
  • Geometrical design and traffic arrangements.
  • Detailed bills of quantity and cost estimates.
  • Tender documents preparation.
  • Top overview during construction.
On top of all design components performed directly by TEDEM, the company has been coordinating and guiding various sub-consultants in the fields of:
  • Construction of bridges and culvert structures.
  • Design of water and sewerage pipelines.
  • Design of illumination along the all roads included in the design scope.
  • Landscape and environmental protection.
  • Addressing of soil engineering aspects related to slopes stability, bridges, viaducts and structures.
  • Road safety.

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