# Highway 40 (Israel)

Highway 40 (Hebrew: כביש 40) is a north-south intercity road in Israel. At 302 km long, it is the second longest highway in Israel, after Highway 90. The highway runs from Kfar Saba in the center of Israel to the Arabah in the south, serving as a main connection between central Israel and Be'er Sheva.

## Route description

The highway starts at an intersection with Highway 90 near Ketura, about 50 km north of Eilat as a two-lane undivided road. It then continues north, winding through the mountains of the southern Negev. This section includes the "Meishar", which is a completely straight and leveled 12 km stretch of road. The highway descends into the Ramon Crater, crosses it and then ascends 250 meters along "Ma'ale HaAtzmaut" to reach Mitzpe Ramon. From Mitzpe Ramon the highway continues past Ramon Air Force Base and Sde Boker.
The section between Ketura and Sde Boker is a scenic route, and some drivers use this road when driving to Eilat because it provides more attractions and scenery, as opposed to highway 90 which is considered to be safer and faster.
From Sde Boker the highway continues past numerous Bedouin settlements and the Ramat Hovav industrial area. Between Nokdim Junction and Goral Junction the highway forms an eastern bypass of Be'er Sheva, also passing Omer and the Bedouin towns of Shaqib al-Salam and Tel as-Sabi. From Goral Junction the highway continues as a dual-carriageway four lane road, passing Lehavim, Rahat and Kiryat Gat.
North of Kiryat Malakhi, the highway merges with Highway 3 for 4 km to Re'em Junction. This short section has six lanes (three in each direction). It then continues as a four lane road, passing through Gedera and past Tel Nof Air Force Base and Rehovot. Between Matzliah Junction and Gesher Lod Junction it forms an eastern bypass of Ramle and Lod.
At El Al Junction the highway turns left towards Ben Gurion International Airport and immediately right at a roundabout. It is then downgraded in size to two lanes until IAI Junction, where it becomes a four lane divided carriageway once again. The highway then continues through Petah Tikva and bypasses Hod HaSharon before terminating at an intersection with Highway 55 in Kfar Saba.

## Junctions and interchanges

The following junctions and interchanges are listed from south to north.
| km | Name | Meaning | Location | Road(s) crossed |
| 0 | צומת קטורה (Ketura Junction) | name of nearby hill and Kibbutz ult. Second wife of Abraham | Lotan, Ketura | Highway 90 (Israel) |
| 9 | צומת נווה חריף (Neve Harif Junction) | ult. Moshe Harif | Neve Harif | local road |
| 10 | צומת נאות סמדר (Ne'ot Smadar Junction) | Beauty of Nascent Fruit | Neot Smadar (Shizafon) | local road |
| 12 | צומת שיזפון (Shizafon Junction) | Suntan | Shizafon Army Base | Highway 12 |
| 26 | צומת שיטים (Shittim Junction) | Acacia wood ult. name of ancient location | Shittim | local road |
| 38 | צומת ציחור (Tzihor Junction) | Whiteness, Purity | Tzihor Stream | Highway 13 |
| 81 | צומת מכתש רמון (Makhtesh Ramon Junction) | Ramon Crater | Makhtesh Ramon | local road |
| 90 | צומת מצפה רמון (Mitzpe Ramon Junction) | Ramon Overlook | Mitzpe Ramon | local road |
| 90.4 | | | Mitzpe Ramon | Mount Sagi St. |
| 91 | | | Mitzpe Ramon | Mount Oded St. |
| 90 | | | Mitzpe Ramon Industrial Zone | Mount Katum St. |
| 95 | צומת הרוחות (HaRuchot Junction) | The Winds | Mitzpe Ramon Landing Strip | Route 171 |
| 117 | צומת ציפורים (Tziporim Junction) | Birds | Ramat Tziporim | local road |
| 121 | צומת מדרשת בן גוריון (Midreshet Ben Gurion Junction) | Ben Gurion College | Midreshet Ben-Gurion | local road |
| 125 | צומת שדה בוקר (Sde Boker Junction) | Herding Field | Sde Boker | local road |
| 126 | צומת חלוקים (Chalukim Junction) | Pebbles | Har Halukim | Route 204 |
| 140 | צומת טללים (Tlalim Junction) | Dew drops | Tlalim | Route 211 |
| 143 | צומת משאבים (Mash'abim Junction) | Resources | Mashabei Sadeh | Route 222 |
| 152 | צומת הנגב (HaNegev Junction) | | | Route 224 to Yeruham |
| 156 | צומת רמת בקע (Ramat Beka Junction) | Rift Hill | Ramat Beka' | local road |
| 159.7 | צומת אל-דנפירי (al-Danfiri Junction) | | al-Danfiri, al-'Azazme, al-Jarjawi | local road |
| 160 | צומת רמת חובב (Ramat Hovav Junction) | | Ramat Hovav Industrial Zone | local road |
| 163 | צומת מסעודין אל-עזאזמה (Mas'udin al-Azazme Junction) | | al-'Azazme, Abu 'Afash | local road |
| 164.3 | צומת תראבין א-צאנע (Tirabin as-Sana Junction) | | Tirabin al-Sana | local road |
| 167 | צומת אוהלים/הנוקדים (Ohalim/HaNokdim Junction) | Tents/The Shepherds | | Route 406 |
| 172 | מחלף שרה (Sara Interchange) | Sarah | Beer Sheva | Highway 25 |
| 176 | צומת חטיבת הנגב (Hativat HaNegev Junction) | Negev Brigade | Beer Sheva | Highway 60 |
| 184 | צומת גורל (Goral Junction) | Destiny | | Route 406 |
| 191 | צומת להבים (Lehavim Junction) | Named after location | near Lehavim | Highway 31 Route 310 |
| 197 | צומת דבירה (Devira Junction) | | Devira, az-Ziadna | Road 3255 |
| 200 | צומת קמה (Kama Junction) | Named after location | Beit Kama | Route 293 |
| 209 | צומת מאחז (Ma'ahaz Junction) | Outpost | Mishlat Ma'ahaz | Highway 6 |
| 214 | צומת אחוזם (Ahuzam Junction) | ult. Ahuzam, son of Asher | Ahuzam | local road |
| 216 | צומת איתן (Eitan Junction) | Steadfast | Eitan | Road 3403 |
| 218 | צומת עוזה (Eitan Junction) | ult. Be Strong | Uza | local road |
| 219 | צומת קרית גת דרום (Kiryat Gat Darom) | South Kiryat Gat | Eitan | Road 3403 (Derech HaDarom) |
| 223 | צומת פלוגות (Plugot Junction) | | Kiryat Gat | Highway 35 |
| 226 | צומת קוממיות (Kom'miut Junction) | | | Route 353 Road 3553 |
| 228 | צומת סגולה (Sgula Junction) | Treasure | Sgula | Road 3553 |
| 229 | צומת ניר בנים (Nir Banim Junction) | Sons' Meadow | Nir Banim | Road 3613 |
| 231 | צומת קדמה (Kedma Junction) | Front | Kedma | local road |
| 233 | צומת תימורים (Timorim Junction) | Rising | Timorim | local road |
| 236 | צומת מלאכי / קסטינה (Malakhi Junction / Kastina) | Angelic / Here we turned | Kiryat Malakhi | Highway 3 |
| 237 | צומת אחים (Akhim Junction) | Brothers | Kfar Ahim, Talmei Yehiel, Achva Academic College, Arugot, Yinon, Al-'Azi | local roads |
| 239 | צומת ראם / מסמיה (Re'em Junction / Masmiya) | Avraham Mordechai Alter & location of former village | Bnei Re'em | Highway 3 |
| 239.3 | (northbound only) | | Bnei Re'em Commercial Zone | entrance road |
| 239.9 | | | Berurim (HaZera Genetics Seed Farm) | entrance road |
| 240.5 | צומת ראם צפון (North Re'em Junction) | | Bnei Re'em | Oren St. |
| 241.6 | צומת חצב (Hatzav Junction) | Drimia | Hatzav | entrance road |
| 243.7 | צומת חפץ חיים (Hafetz Haim Junction) | Desirer of life | to Hafetz Haim to Beit Hilkia | Road 3933 |
| 244.3 | צומת חצור (Hatzor Junction) | | Kannot Industrial Park, Bene Ayish | Route 3922 |
| 244.8 | מחלף גדרה (Gedera Interchange) | presumed biblical location (probably incorrect) ult. hedge fence | Gedera, Kannot | Highway 7 |
| 245.4 | | | Gedera | Ben Gurion Blvd. |
| 246.2 | | | Gedera | HaBiluyim St. Tarmah St. |
| 246.7 | | | Gedera | Weizmann Blvd. |
| 247.3 | | | Gedera | Yitzhak Ben-Zvi St. |
| 248.5 | צומת תל נוף (Tel Nof Junction) | Named after location | Beit Elazari, Tel Nof Airbase | Road 4103 |
| 251.3 | | | Givat Brenner, Kiryat Ekron | Local road King Hassan II St. |
| 252.1 | צומת ברנר (Brenner Junction) | Named after location | Givat Brenner, Kiryat Ekron | Route 411 Road 4123 |
| 252.4 | | | Kaplan Medical Center | Derech Pasternak |
| 252.9 | צומת בילו (Bilu Junction) | Bilu Kibbutz Movement ult. House of Jacob, come let's go | Kfar Bilu, Rehovot | Route 412 |
| 255.1 | | | Ganei Hadar, Ramot Meir, Na'an | Road 4233 |
| 255.6 | צומת רחובות מזרח (Rehovot Mizrach Junction) | East Rehovot | Rehovot | Derech Menachem Begin |
| 256 | צומת סתריה (Sitria Junction) | named after Bedouin clan originally in area | Sitria | Shiv'at HaMinim St. |
| 258 | צומת ישרש (Yashresh Junction) | (He) will take root | Yashresh | HaYarden St. |
| 259.5 | צומת רמלה דרום (Ramla Darom Junction) | South Ramle | Ramle | Route 431 |
| 260.1 | צומת צומת מצליח (Matzliah Junction) | named after Sahl ben Matzliah | Ramle, Matzliah | Road 4304 |
| 260.2 | | | Ramle | Bialik St. |
| 261.1 | | | Ramle | Klausner St. |
| 262.1 | מחלף רמלוד (Ramlod Interchange) | Combination of Ramle and Lod | Ramle, Lod | Highway 44 |
| 263.5 | צומת אחיסמך (Ahisamakh Junction) | Brother of Support | Lod, Ahisamakh | Derech HaRema Shivat HaMinim St. |
| 264.8 | צומת לוד מרכז (Lod Mercaz Junction) | Lod Center | Lod | HaTziyonut Blvd. |
| 267 | צומת גינתון (Ginaton Junction) | little garden | Lod, Ginaton, Ben Shemen | Route 443 Dr. Mordechai & Hava Freeman St. |
| 268.8 | צומת לוד צפון (Lod Tzafon Junction) | Lod North | Lod | Route 434 (Abba Hillel Silver St.) |
| 269.2 | מחלף לוד (Lod Interchange) | | Lod | Highway 1 |
| 271.8 | צומת אל על (EL AL Junction) | Named after Airline ult. onward, upward | Ben Gurion International Airport, Airport City | Highway 46 Route 453 |
| 272 | | | Ben Gurion International Airport | Road 4503 |
| 273.7 | צומת תעשייה אווירית (Ta'asiya Avirit Junction) | Aviation Industry | Israel Aircraft Industries | local road |
| 274.5 | | | Israel Aircraft Industries | local road |
| 275.1 | צומת בדק (Bedek Junction) | Named after company: Bedek Aviation Group | | Road 4613 |
| 276 | צומת טייסים (Tayasim Junction) | pilots | Bnei Atarot, Yehud | Route 461 |
| 278.1 | צומת בארות יצחק (Be'erot Yitzhak Junction) | Isaac's Wells | Be'erot Yitzhak | local road |
| 278.6 | צומת נופך (Nofekh Junction) | name of stone in the Hoshen | Nofekh, Be'erot Yitzhak Mall | Road 4623 |
| 279 | צומת מדשימים (Magshimim Junction) | ones who fulfill their dreams | Magshimim | HaTamar St. |
| 279.6 | צומת נחלים דרום (Nehalim Darom Junction) | streams south | Nehalim | Snir St. |
| 280.5 | צומת נחלים צפון (Nehalim Tzafon Junction) | streams north | Nehalim | Dan St. |
| 280.7 | מחלף שעריה (Sha'ariya Interchange) | Named after nearby neighborhood ult.Gates of God | Petah Tikva | Route 471 |
| 281.6 | | | Petah Tikva | Hoshea' St. |
| 282.1 | | | Petah Tikva | Shlomo St. Ya'akov Hazan St. |
| 282.7 | צומת סירקין (Sirkin Junction) | named after Nachman Sirkin | Petah Tikva, Kfar Sirkin | Ein Ganim St. Road 4713 (Va'ad Arba' Artzot St.) |
| 283.3 | | | Petah Tikva | A. D. Gordon St. |
| 283.6 | | | Petah Tikva | HaVatikim St. |
| 284.3 | צומת גנים (Ganim Junction) | named after Ein Ganim ult. gardens | Petah Tikva, Givat HaShlosha | HaRav Herzog St. Route 483 (Rosh HaAyin St.) |
| 285 | צומת סגולה (Sgula Junction) | named after nearby commercial district ult. talisman | Petah Tikva | HaYarkonim St. |
| 286.8 | צומת הבפטיסטים (HaBaftistim Junction) | The Baptists | Baptist Village, HaYarkonim Commercial Center, Yarkon National Park, Tel Afek | Natan Shifris St |
| 287.3 | מחלף ירקון (Yarkon Interchange) | Named after Yarkon River | | Highway 5 |
| 288.3 | צומת עדנים (Adanim Junction) | pleasures | Adanim, Neve Ne'eman Industrial Zone | Route 402 (Derech Ramatayim) |
| 289.2 | | | Adanim | local road |
| 289.4 | | | HaSharon South Regional Council | |
| 289.9 | נווה ירק (Neve Yarak Junction) | home of greenery | | Road 5112 |
| 291.6 | צומת אלישמע (Elishama Junction) | ult. named after Elishama, son of Ammihud | Hod HaSharon, Elishama | Mevo Kedem St. HaNarkis St. |
| 293.2 | מחלף אלישמע (Elishama Interchange) | | Hod HaSharon, Kfar Saba | Route 531 |
| 293.6 | | | Kfar Saba, Atir Yeda Industrial Zone | Atir Yeda St. |
| 294 | | | Kfar Saba | Weizmann St. Highway 55 |