A regional planning and building commission approved last week a four-billion-shekel plan for building the Haifa Bay Port - HaMifratz Port.
The project includes the construction of offshore buildings and a new container terminal. Next to the port will be 1.5 billion shekels worth of railroad and highway infrastructure.
The expansion plan for Haifa Port will dramatically change the look of the city and Haifa Bay in the years to come. Expansion of the port could be critical to the Haifa Municipality's attempts to revitalize the area at the foot of Mount Carmel known as the Lower City.
The terminal is being designed to handle 18,000 TEU Triple E-class vessels with a water depth of 17.3m and will feature a primary 1,050-1,100m long quay, breakwater extensions and lee breakwaters of differing lengths.
Also approved was the Haifa-Barcelona plan for developing the city's beach and waterfront. The plan is intended to turn the western part of the port into a tourist and entertainment site.
