Hi,
Yehudit bridge is the new political crisis. The bridge purpose is to gap over Ayalon highway, and to connect between Tel-Aviv neighborhoods on both sides of the road.
In order to build Yehudit bridge, there was a need to close Ayalon highway for 6 Sabbath days. The construction engineer designed it from 6 elements that need about 24 hours to be assembled over Ayalon highway and Ayalon railway. That can only be done in Sabbath days.
In this point the Ultra-religious woke up and aimed to turn out the government if the works will be done in Sabbath.
Can the bridge be built during the nights? yes, send the elements back to the factory and close Ayalon (railway and highway) during the nights for two months. It will cause a transportation nightmare. Instead of close it for Saturdays only during the holidays times. It also mean to build during the winter with the risk of floods in Ayalon. But do the Ultra religious care? They don’t use those routes…
The Ultra-religious parties considered right wing parties. But they set in almost all Israel governments. In their will governments an PM will raise or fall (ask Tzipi Livni). They have on thing in mind – taking care of their religion voters. That cause Israel governments to act more religious than most of Israel population is.
Hopefully this time the logic understanding of things will allow to build the bridge in Sabbath. But for now the solution was easy, to postponed the construction by six months. The political calculations say it will be only after the elections….
Take care
Gad
Yheudit bridge illustration (construction by Rokah Ashkenazi consulting engineers Inc)
Middle span temporary support
One elements of the six steel elements of Yehudit bridge