Malakhi Junction

The Malakhi Junction, also known as Qastina (Hebrew: קסטינה) for the Arab village which once stood there, is a major road junction in Israel, between Highway 40 and 3. It is located on the 37th kilometer of Highway 3.

Restaurant complex displaying the famous Qastina sign (after renovation)

Like most junctions in Israel, it serves as a major transportation hub and has a trempiada, or hitchhiking stand. Due to its proximity to Kiryat Malakhi, it is also sometimes considered Kiryat Malakhi's central bus station, operated by the Be'er Tuvia Regional Council. In that capacity however, it has been often criticized, to the point that Ynet uses a photo of the bus stations in Qastina as a stock photo for public transportation critiques. In a March 2007 survey, Ynet gave Qastina a 0/10 rating (the lowest) out of 11 bus station checked nationwide.[1] On March 1, 2008, the Israeli Channel 2 ran a similar survey, ranking Qastina lowest, with 0/3 on its three main criteria.[2]

In addition, the junction is a common stop for Israelis traveling between the north/center of the country (Haifa, Tel Aviv) to the south (Beersheba, Eilat), a fact that helps maintain several fast food and other small stores. The junction has a Better Place battery replacement station.[3]

During the October 2000 events, Arab citizens burned tires and threw rocks at passing buses at the junction.[4]

Bus lines
Road map of the junction, showing the bus movement
Map showing the locations of bus stations on the junction

Following is a list of bus lines which stop in the junction's terminal.

LineRouteViaCompany
31 Kiryat Malakhi - Ashkelon CBS Ashkelon Railway Station Egged
140 Kiryat Malakhi – Ashdod CBS Beer Tuvia regional council Afikim
141 Kiryat Malakhi – Ashdod CBS Beer Tuvia regional council Afikim
142 Kiryat Malakhi – Ashdod CBS Azrikam Afikim
301 Tel Aviv CBS – Ashkelon CBS Rishon LeZion old CBS, Rehovot CBS, Gedera CBS, Malakhi Junction, Kiryat Gat CBS Egged
310 Tel Aviv CBS – Ashkelon CBS Yavne CBS, Malakhi Junction, Kiryat Gat CBS Egged
348 Ashdod CBS – Beersheba CBS Malakhi Junction, Kiryat Gat CBS Metropoline
367 Rishon LeZion CBS – Beersheba CBS Rehovot CBS, Gedera CBS, Malakhi Junction, Kiryat Gat CBS Metropoline
369 Tel Aviv CBS – Beersheba CBS Yavne CBS, Malakhi Junction, Kiryat Gat CBS Metropoline
371 Rishon LeZion CBS – Beersheba CBS Rehovot CBS, Gedera CBS, Malakhi Junction, Kiryat Gat CBS Metropoline
376 Kiryat Malakhi – Tze'elim Gedera CBS, Malakhi Junction, Kiryat Gat CBS, Ofakim Dan BaDarom
390 Tel Aviv CBS - Eilat CBS Malakhi Junction Egged
393 Tel Aviv CBS – Eilat CBS Rishon LeZion CBS, Rehovot CBS, Gedera CBS, Malakhi Junction, Beersheba CBS, Dimona CBS Egged
437 Jerusalem CBS – Ashkelon CBS Malakhi Junction Egged
443 Jerusalem CBS – Netivot Malakhi Junction, Sderot Egged
446 Jerusalem CBS – Beersheba CBS Malakhi Junction, Kiryat Gat CBS Egged
449 Ofakim – Jerusalem CBS1 2 Kiryat Gat CBS – Malakhi Junction Egged
991 Eilat CBS – Haifa Hof HaCarmel CBS1 Netanya CBS, Hadera CBS Egged

1 – stops in the terminal in one direction only
2 – Sundays only

Road accidents

In the beginning of 2010, Ayelet Malko suffered fatal injuries after being run over while crossing the junction. This contributed to a decision to build a pedestrian bridge in the area, which was planned to have been completed by the end of 2010.[5]

Plans

The National Roads Company of Israel approved 500 million NIS to upgrade the junction to an interchange.[5]

See also

References
  1. Donner, Shlomi (2007-03-09). "A Check on Central Bus Stations - Third World Level" (in Hebrew). Ynet.
  2. "A Journey to the Past - The State of the Central Bus Stations in Israel (video)" (in Hebrew). 2008-03-01. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
  3. "Better Place Completes Battery Exchange Network". Globes. August 22, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  4. "October 2000 events timeline" (in Hebrew). Israel Court Protocols. Archived from the original on 2008-05-22. Retrieved 2008-04-15.
  5. Jan, Eli (June 9, 2010). "Interchange for Qastina Junction Approved". Mynet (in Hebrew). Ynet. Retrieved 2010-07-24.

31°43′54.67″N 34°45′24.53″E

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