Tel Aviv Central Bus Station Ramps Set for Demolition in Early 2027

Tel Aviv's Central Bus Station, long criticized as an urban blight and a source of severe air pollution, is set to undergo a dramatic partial demolition early next year. According to plans confirmed by municipal authorities and the Ministry of Transportation, the project marks the first tangible step toward the eventual full clearance of the massive complex.

The initial phase involves tearing down the concrete ramps and elevated bridge leading to the station's upper levels, starting with the main ramp on Levinsky Street. Scheduled to take place by March 2027, the demolition is urgently required to accommodate ongoing construction of the Tel Aviv Light Rail's Purple Line, which runs directly beneath the ramps along Levinsky Street. Delaying the removal risks disrupting the light rail's future electrification and launch.

While the municipality has issued a tender for the project and expects Shapir Engineering to participate, the overhaul threatens to exacerbate traffic chaos in south Tel Aviv. With thousands of bus entries and exits handled daily, the closure of the Levinsky ramp will restrict access primarily to Matalon Street on the western side. Officials plan to reroute several bus lines to alternative terminals such as Savidor, aiming to gradually empty the station ahead of a planned permanent replacement at the Holon-Mikveh Israel junction by 2031.

Tel Aviv Deputy Mayor Meital Lehavi emphasized the necessity of the project, describing the aging structure as a lingering scar on the south of the city. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transportation stated that comprehensive operational adjustments are being formulated to maintain public transit continuity and minimize commuter disruptions once the construction works begin.