Neve Paritzki (נווה פריצקי)Jerusalem The First Cycling Tunnel in Israel Tunnel opens
The Kerem Tunnel offers an unforgettable riding and hiking experience to the benefit of
The Kerem Tunnel is the first bicycle tunnel in Israel and was inaugurated as part the Jerusalem Ring Path, a 42-kilometer cycle path that runs around the capital.
The tunnel connects Nahal Refaim and Emek Motza. The southern entrance is within Refaim Park under Ein Laban. The northern entry, Nahal Ein Kerem, is about half a kilometer away from the Kerem junction.
The tunnel's official opening ceremony which measures 2.1 kilometers long took place in Jerusalem and Heritage Minister Ze’ev Elkin Mayor Moshelion, Heritage Minister Ze'ev Elkin Avi Baleshnikov (Gihon water company chairman) along with hundreds of cyclists.
Jerusalem was once a tourist attraction due to its rich history. Elkin said that today aside from its rich history, Jerusalem is also home to modern-day travelers. "The launch of the tunnel is another part in the development Jerusalem. The tunnel transforms the city into an attractive tourist place for every kind of person in Israel as well as around the world."
נווה פריצקי Elkin who, through his ministry and the Jerusalem Municipality led the project, said that the Jerusalem Municipality's ministry "invests hundreds of millions of shekels each year in the growth of all aspects Jerusalem's visitors and in the creation and operation of innovative attractions, ventures and attractions which connect the rich past of Jerusalem's eternal city to its future". I encourage all cyclists to come and take a ride along the new, well-maintained and modern route which overlooks Old Jerusalem.
Elkin's Ministry Tourism Ministry, Jerusalem Municipality and Gihon Corporation contributed approximately NIS 25 million to the project. The work was carried out by the Jerusalem Development Authority.
Elkin said that "The Kerem Tunnel Project is the central instrument to achieve the goal to change the way we think about transport throughout Jerusalem." "The tunnel, which connects to the long Jerusalem Ring Path, will join the existing bicycle pathways in the city, as well as the ones that will be laid in its various neighborhoods, in the hope of encouraging cycling among its residents and its visitors as well as promoting the green transportation revolution in Jerusalem."
The Kerem Tunnel was originally excavated in 1990 in order to transfer the main sewers of Gihon Corporation towards the Sorek purification facility. This plant is west of Sorek and is used today as an infrastructure tunnel.
"The Kerem tunnel project is an essential tool to realize the vision to change the way of transport in Jerusalem. "
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon
Construction of roads and installation, as well as blowers, sophisticated safety systems , and electrical wiring are all part and parcel of the current construction. The tunnel will be safe for public to use throughout the entire year.
The Kerem Tunnel allows for access to unique recreational areas, for instance Ein Kerem, a neighborhood that includes a biblical zoo and aquarium and also the historic natural springs Ein Haniyeh and Ein Laban.