Neve Paritzki (נווה פריצקי)Jerusalem's first cycling tunnel is inaugurated in Israel
The Kerem Tunnel provides a unique adventure in hiking and riding that is to be loved by everyone.
The Kerem Tunnel, the first cycle tunnel in Israel, has been inaugurated as part of the Jerusalem Ring Path, a 42-kilometer cycle path that runs around the capital city.
נווה פריצקי It connects Nahal Refaim to Emek Motza. Its southern entry is located in Refaim Park under Ein Laban. The northern entrance, Nahal Ein Kerem, is approximately half a mile away from the Nahal Ein Kerem junction.
The 2.1-kilometer-long tunnel was inaugurated by Jerusalem's Heritage Minister Zeev Elkin. The ceremony was also attended by Mayor Moshelion Avi Balehnikov, Gihon Water Company Chairman, as well as thousands of cyclists.
Jerusalem was once a tourist attraction due to its rich past. Elkin said that today aside from its historic treasures, it is also home to modern-day travelers. "The inauguration of this tunnel project is a different part in the development Jerusalem. The tunnel makes Jerusalem an attractive tourist place for any kind of crowd within Israel and around the world."
Elkin's ministry, which was also headed the project alongside Jerusalem Municipality, said that the ministry "invests hundreds and millions of shekels every year in all aspects of Jerusalem's tourism, and also in the creation of new ventures and attractions which connect the glorious historic past of our eternal capital with the future." I would like to invite cyclists everywhere to visit and enjoy the contemporary, well-maintained road that takes in the view of Old Jerusalem.
A total of NIS 25 million was earmarked in the project, financed by Elkin's ministry, the Tourism Ministry, the Jerusalem Municipality as well as the Gihon Corporation and the Jerusalem Purification and Sewerage Works, with the work carried out by the Jerusalem Development Authority.
Elkin declared that the Kerem Tunnel project was a important tool to realize the dream of changing the concept for transportation throughout Jerusalem. "The new tunnel will be connected with the Jerusalem Ring Path. It will connect with the various cycle paths already in the city. The paths will be paved within the diverse neighborhoods. The objective is to encourage cyclists in the city.
The Kerem Tunnel first was excavated in the 1990s to create an important sewer line for the Gihon Corporation towards Sorek. It is currently used as an infrastructure tunnel which includes the fifth waterline to Jerusalem via the Mekorot water corporation.
"The Kerem Tunnel Project is an important tool in realizing the goal to change the way transportation is thought of throughout Jerusalem. "
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon
Present work includes road construction, installation blowers and advanced safety equipment to ensure the tunnel is secure for all to use all year.
The Kerem Tunnel provides access to special recreation areas, such as Ein Kerem neighbourhood, the biblical aquarium and zoo as well the historic natural springs Ein Haniyeh, Ein Laban Ein Laban, and Ein Haniyeh.