Neve Paritzki Jerusalem Israels First Cycling Tunnel opens
The Kerem Tunnel is a great spot to hike and ride.
The Kerem Tunnel, Israel's first bicycle tunnel, was opened as part of the Jerusalem Ring Path. This 42-kilometer cycle path surrounds Jerusalem.
נווה פריצקי The tunnel links Nahal Refaim and Emek Motza. The southern entrance is within Refaim Park under Ein Laban. The northern entrance, Nahal Ein Kerem, is just half a kilometer away from the Nahal Ein Kerem junction.
The 2.1-kilometers-long tunnel project was officially inaugurated during a celebration on Thursday , attended by Jerusalem and Heritage Minister Ze'ev Elkin Mayor Moshe Lion, Gihon water company chairman Avi Baleshnikov as well as hundreds of cyclists.
Jerusalem was once well-known tourist destination due to its historical past. Nowadays, aside from its historical treasures it also has modern tourism," Elkin said. "The inauguration of [this] tunnel project is another part of the expansion of Jerusalem as a city. Jerusalem as well as its development into an attractive tourist destination for all kinds of visitors throughout Israel as well as around the world."
Elkin's ministry, which also headed the project in conjunction with Jerusalem Municipality, declared that his ministry "invests hundreds and millions of shekels every year in all aspects of Jerusalem's tourism industry and is involved in developing innovative attractions and ventures, that connect the magnificent historical time of our capital city and its future." I would like to invite cyclists to enjoy a safe and modernized route that will take the cyclist through Old Jerusalem.
The project was funded by Elkin's ministry and the Tourism Ministry. It also included budgets for the Jerusalem Municipality and the Gihon Corporation. The work was carried out by the Jerusalem Development Authority.
"The Kerem Tunnel project is an essential tool to realize the vision to transform the idea of transportation in Jerusalem," Elkin emphasized. "The new tunnel connecting to the Jerusalem Ring Path will join existing paths for bicycles and the ones that will be paved within its areas. It is intended to encourage cycling among its residents and promote the green transport revolution in Jerusalem."
The Kerem Tunnel was originally excavated in 1990 to move the main sewer from Gihon Corporation towards the Sorek purification facility. The plant is located west of Sorek and is used today as an infrastructure tunnel.
"The Kerem Tunnel Project is crucial in achieving the dream to change the way transportation is thought of throughout Jerusalem. "
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lee
To make the tunnel usable to the public year-round The works comprise road construction and installation of blowers.
The Kerem Tunnel also allows access to unique recreation sites - including the Ein Kerem neighborhood, the biblical zoo, aquarium and the as well as the historic natural springs of Ein Laban and Ein Haniyeh.
