Route 204 is a regional road in the Negev desert of southern Israel. It runs approximately 30.4 km (18.9 miles) from the Halukim Junction with Highway 40 near Sde Boker, passes by the town of Yeruham, and terminates at the Dimona Junction on Highway 25 near Dimona.
History
The southern section of the road, from Yeruham southward, was broken by the Israel Defense Forces starting in 1951 as part of the construction of the road to Eilat through the Makhtesh Ramon. This road to Eilat was officially inaugurated in February 1954.
The northern section was paved in 1952 and inaugurated in February 1953, as part of the construction of the Be'er Sheva–Sodom road. It was built as a temporary detour connecting the road from Sodom to the Petroleum Road, delaying the expenses of paving Highway 25 from Dimona to Be'er Sheva. During the 1950s and 1960s, Route 204 made Yeruham a major crossroads in the Negev. After Highway 25 from Be'er Sheva to Dimona opened, use of the northern section of Route 204 declined, while the southern section served as the main road to Eilat.
The road underwent widening along its entire length in 1969–1970. In February 1973, a section of Highway 40 opened from Mashabei Sadeh to Sde Boker, making passage on Route 204 less necessary for through traffic. Consequently, the Petroleum Road was closed, and traffic to Yeruham continued to use the northern section of Route 204.
Major Junctions (South to North)
| Location | km | Name | Connects to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sde Boker | 0 | Halukim Junction | Route 431 |
| Merhav Am | 3.4 | Merhav Am Junction | Road 2042 |
| Yeruham | 17.2 | Yeruham Junction | Route 225 |
| Yeruham | 17.8 | Givat Yeruham Junction | Route 224 |
| Yeruham | 20.3 | North Yeruham Junction | Vardimon Boulevard |
| Dimona | 30.4 | Dimona Junction | Highway 25 |
The road has existed since 1953 and remains in use as a regional connector in the northern Negev.
