Neve Paritzki Jerusalem is home to the worlds first bicycle tunnel in Israel
The Kerem Tunnel is a great place to ride and hike.
The Kerem Tunnel, the first cycle tunnel in Israel was opened as part of the Jerusalem Ring Path, a 42-kilometer cycling route that surrounds the capital city.
The tunnel is a link between Nahal Refaim and Emek Motza. The tunnel's southern entrance can be found in Refaim Park below Ein Laban. נווה פריצקי While the northern entrance is located in Nahal Ein Kerem about half a km away from the Kerem junction.
The 2.1-kilometer long tunnel was inaugurated on Thursday, by Jerusalem and heritage minister Ze'evElkin and Mayor Moshe Lion. Avi Baleshnikov of Gihon, chairman of Gihon, and hundreds other cyclists were also in attendance.
Jerusalem was a sought-after tourist destination due to its glorious past. Elkin stated that, in addition to its rich history and modern amenities, tourism has also been incorporated into Jerusalem's city. "The opening (of [this] tunnel project is an additional part of the development of Jerusalem and it's transformation into a sought-after tourist destination for all kinds of people in Israel as well as across the globe."
Elkin who's ministry responsible for the project, along with Jerusalem Municipality stated that his ministry invested hundreds of millions of shekels each year in Jerusalem's tourist development and in the development of new activities and ventures that will connect the magnificent historic past with the the future of Jerusalem. I would like to invite cyclists to join us and take a ride along a modern and well-maintained cycling route that overlooks the special scenery of Old Jerusalem."
The project was financed by the Elkin's department as well as the Tourism Ministry. It also included budgets for the Jerusalem Municipality and the Gihon Corporation. The work was completed by the Jerusalem Development Authority.
Elkin said that the Kerem Tunnel project was a key tool in realizing the vision of changing the concept for transportation in Jerusalem. "The new tunnel that connects to the Jerusalem Ring Path will join the existing bike paths as well as those that will paved in its areas. It is intended to encourage biking within the city's residents and to promote the green transport revolution in Jerusalem."
The Kerem Tunnel was originally excavated in the year 1990 to relocate the main sewer from Gihon Corporation towards the Sorek purification facility. This plant is located west of Sorek and is used today as an infrastructure tunnel.
"The Kerem tunnel project is essential to achieving the dream of transforming Jerusalem's transportation system. "
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lon
The work currently in progress includes road construction, the installation of blowers, as well as advanced safety and electrical systems in order to ensure that the tunnel is secure for pedestrians to travel through at all times of the year.
The Kerem Tunnel also allows access to special recreation areas - including the Ein Kerem neighborhood, the biblical zoo, aquarium and the as well as the historic natural springs in Ein Laban and Ein Haniyeh.
