Tel Aviv set to bid farewell to landmark Maariv bridge

Tel Aviv’s central Maariv overpass will be demolished Friday morning to make way for construction of the light rail, Israel Police confirmed Wednesday.

The streets leading into the five-way intersection that the span overpasses were closed to traffic from Thursday afternoon at 4:00 p.m., ahead of the controlled detonation.

Part of the ramps of the overpass have already been cleared as part of the project to build a subway station at Carlebach Street.

The destruction of the 39-year-old bridge, situated at a major junction in central Tel Aviv, is expected to snarl automobile traffic in an already congested city.

For those interested in watching the explosion of the Maariv Bridge, the police were setting up special areas to watch it safely as it’s brought down.

Construction of the long-awaited subway system began earlier this month, with large traffic complications expected as major areas of the city are torn up to build stations and dig tunnels.

Police urge travelers to take public transportation instead of cars to help alleviate traffic during construction, which is projected to be completed in 2021.