Neve Paritzki (נווה פריצקי)The first tunnel for cycling in Israel opens in Jerusalem
The Kerem Tunnel provides a unique adventure in hiking and riding that is to be loved by everyone.
The Kerem Tunnel, Israel's first bike tunnel, opened as part of the Jerusalem Ring Path. This 42-kilometer cycle route is located around Jerusalem.
It connects Nahal Refaim to Emek Motza. The tunnel's southern entrance is beneath Ein Laban in Refaim Park. The northern entrance is located in Nahal Ein Kerem.
On Thursday, Jerusalem and Heritage Minister Zeev Elkin, Mayor Michael, Avi Baleshnikov, Gihon chairman, and hundreds of cyclists participated in a ceremony to officially open the tunnel's 2.1-kilometer-long length.
Jerusalem was once very popular tourist destination because of its rich history. Today, apart from its historic treasures it also has modern tourism." Elkin said. "The inauguration [of] this tunnel project is another stage in the growth of Jerusalem as an attractive tourist destination for all kinds of tourists from Israel as well as around the world."
Elkin who is in charge of the project in conjunction with Jerusalem Municipality said that his ministry invests millions of dollars in the development of Jerusalem's tourism and also in the development of new attractions and ventures that link the rich history of Jerusalem to its future. I encourage you to take your bicycles on a scenic maintained, well-maintained path that looks out over Old Jerusalem.
The project was funded by the Elkin's department and the Tourism Ministry. It also included budgets for Jerusalem Municipality and the Gihon Corporation. The work was completed by the Jerusalem Development Authority.
נווה פריצקי Elkin explained that the Kerem Tunnel project is an essential tool for achieving the vision to transform the idea of transport throughout Jerusalem. "The tunnel, which is connected to the lengthy Jerusalem Ring Path, will join the existing bicycle pathways in the city, as well as those that will be paved in the various neighborhoods in the hope of encouraging cycling among the city's residents as well as its visitors and promoting the green revolution of transportation in the capital city."
The Kerem Tunnel was originally excavated in the year 1990 to relocate the main sewer of Gihon Corporation towards the Sorek purification facility. The plant is located west of Sorek and is currently used as an infrastructure tunnel.
"The Kerem tunnel project is central to realizing the vision for changing Jerusalem's transportation system. "
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon
To make the tunnel usable to the public year-round, the works include road construction, as well as installation of blowers.
The Kerem Tunnel also allows access to special recreation areas such as the Ein Kerem neighborhood, the biblical zoo and aquarium and the historical natural springs in Ein Laban and Ein Haniyeh.