Drivers face heavy road congestion in lead-up to Pessah

Highway, major routes clogged as drivers urged to exercise caution; train en-route to J'lem breaks down due to technical problems.

TA traffic_311 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
TA traffic_311
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Traffic jams were reported across the country on Monday ahead of the Pessah Seder.
Israeli radio stations reported heavy traffic on the coastal highway between the Netanya area to the Olga junction after a fire erupted nearby. In the old Tel Aviv-Haifa highway, congestion was reported from Hasharon junction to Horoeh junction.
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Routes 1, 2, 4, 65, and 70 were also clogged and drivers were urged to exercise caution and budget extra time.
People travelling to Jerusalem from the Center by train also experienced long waiting periods as one train heading to the capital broke down in the Beit Shemesh area.
Passengers said that after waiting for an hour, buses were brought in to transport people to Jerusalem.
Israel Railways confirmed the breakdown, noting that the train stopped due to technical problems.
The number of visitors in Israel for the holiday is also set to experience a boost as over a quarter of a million foreign tourists are expected to visit during Pessah and Easter, the Tourism Ministry reported on Friday.