Neve Paritzki (נווה פריצקי)Jerusalem opens Israel's first cycling tunnel.
The Kerem Tunnel provides a unique ride and hiking experience that is to be loved by everyone.
The Kerem Tunnel, the first cycle tunnel in Israel was opened as part of the Jerusalem Ring Path, a 42-kilometer cycle route that circles the capital city.
The tunnel connects Nahal Refaim and Emek Motza. Its southern entrance is in Refaim Park under Ein Laban. The northern entry, Nahal Ein Kerem, is just half a kilometer away from the Kerem junction.
Inauguration of the tunnel, which is 2.1 kilometers long was held in Jerusalem and the Heritage Minister Ze'ev Elkin Mayor Moshelion, Heritage Minister Ze'ev Elkin Avi Baleshnikov (Gihon water company chairman) as well as a plethora of cyclists.
Jerusalem was a sought-after tourist destination because of its glorious past. נווה פריצקי Elkin explained that today along with its historical treasures the tunnel construction project encompasses modern day tourism. "The inauguration of [this] tunnel is another aspect of the growth of Jerusalem's city Jerusalem as well as its development into an attractive tourist city for all types of visitors throughout Israel and throughout the world."
Elkin who is in charge of the project along with Jerusalem Municipality said that his ministry invests millions of dollars in Jerusalem's tourism development and also in the development of new attractions and ventures that link the glory historical past of Jerusalem to its future. I would like to invite cyclists to ride a secure and modern route that takes the cyclist through Old Jerusalem.
About NIS 25 million was invested in the project, budgeted by the Elkin's Ministry, the Tourism Ministry, the Jerusalem Municipality and the Gihon Corporation and the Jerusalem Purification and Sewerage Works, and the work was carried out by the Jerusalem Development Authority.
Elkin stressed the fact that "The Kerem Tunnel Project is a central tool to realize the vision to change the way we think about transport throughout Jerusalem." "The new tunnel, which will connect to the long Jerusalem Ring Path, will join existing bike pathways in the city, as well as the ones that will be laid throughout the city's neighborhoods to encourage cycling among the city's residents as well as its visitors and encouraging the green revolution of transportation in the capital city."
The Kerem Tunnel first was excavated in the 90s to move an important sewer line for the Gihon Corporation towards Sorek. It is currently being used as an infrastructure tunnel which also includes the fifth line of water that runs to Jerusalem from the Mekorot water corporation.
"The Kerem Tunnel Project is crucial in achieving the goal of changing the transportation concept throughout Jerusalem. "
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lee
Construction of roads, installation, blowers, modern security systems and electrical wiring are all part of the current works. The tunnel will be safe for the people to use all entire year.
The Kerem Tunnel gives you access to many recreation sites, including Ein Kerem Neighborhood, the Biblical Zoo and Aquarium as well as historic natural springs Ein Haniyeh or Ein Laban.