Notes

Neve Paritzki (נווה פריצקי)Jerusalem: Israel's First Cycling Tunnel opens

The Kerem Tunnel allows for a the most unique riding and hiking experience.
The Kerem Tunnel is the first cycle tunnel in Israel and was opened as part the Jerusalem Ring Path, a 42-kilometer cycle route that circles the capital.

The tunnel links the paths between Nahal Refaim and Emek Motza. The tunnel's southern entry point is located within Refaim Park below Ein Laban. While the northern entrance can be found in Nahal Ein Kerem about half one kilometer from the Kerem junction.

The tunnel's official opening ceremony, which is 2.1 kilometers long took place in Jerusalem and the Heritage Minister Ze'ev Elkin, Mayor Moshelion and Avi Baleshnikov (Gihon water company chairman) along with hundreds of cyclists.

Jerusalem was a sought-after tourist destination due to its rich past. Elkin said that today aside from its historic treasures, it also incorporates modern tourists. "The opening (of the tunnel) is an additional part of the expansion of Jerusalem as well as its transformation into a desirable tourist city for all sorts of audiences in Israel as well as across the world."

נווה פריצקי Elkin, whose ministry together with the Jerusalem Municipality spearheaded the project, said his ministry "invests hundreds of millions of shekels every year in the improvement of Jerusalem's tourism in all its aspects and the development of exciting attractions and ventures that connect the fascinating history of our capital city to the future of Jerusalem... I would like to invite cyclists everywhere to visit and enjoy the modern, well-maintained route that takes in the view of Old Jerusalem.

Elkin's Ministry, the Tourism Ministry, Jerusalem Municipality, and the Gihon Corporation all contributed to the project. The Jerusalem Development Authority completed the project.

Elkin stated that the Kerem Tunnel project was a crucial element in achieving the vision of altering the way of transport throughout Jerusalem. "The new tunnel that connects to the Jerusalem Ring Path will join existing bicycle paths and ones that are paved in the neighborhoods. The goal is to encourage cycling among the residents of Jerusalem and encourage the green movement in Jerusalem."

The Kerem Tunnel, originally excavated by the Gihon Corporation in the 1990s in order to transfer its main sewer line towards the Sorek purification plant.


"The Kerem tunnel project is the central instrument for achieving the vision to change the notion of transportation in Jerusalem. "

Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon
In order to make the tunnel accessible to the public year-round The works comprise road construction and installation of blowers.

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.

Homepage: https://nevefrietzki.co.il/