The Kerem Tunnel is a great place to ride and hike.
In the 42-kilometer Jerusalem Ring Path cycling route that surrounds Jerusalem's capital, the Kerem Tunnel was inaugurated.
The tunnel connects the path between Nahal Refaim and Emek Motza. Its southern entrance is located in Refaim Park, below Ein Laban, and the northern entrance is located in Nahal Ein Kerem, about one kilometer away close to the Kerem junction.
The 2.1-kilometers-long tunnel project was inaugurated in a ceremony held on Thursday that was attended by Jerusalem and Heritage Minister Ze'evElkin, Mayor Moshe Lion, Gihon water company chairman Avi Baleshnikov and hundreds of cyclists.
"In the past, Jerusalem was an attractive tourist city due to its rich past. Elkin said that, today along with its historic treasures the tunnel project encompasses modern day tourism. "The inauguration of this tunnel project is a different part in the development Jerusalem. The tunnel transforms Jerusalem into an attractive destination for tourists of every kind of person throughout Israel, and worldwide."
The ministry of Elkin, which also in charge of the project together in conjunction with Jerusalem Municipality, said that the ministry "invests hundreds and millions of shekels annually in all aspects of Jerusalem’s tourism and in creating new ventures and attractions which connect the glorious historic history of our capital city and the future." I would like to invite cyclists to ride a secure and modern route that takes the cyclist through Old Jerusalem.
The project was financed by the Elkin's Ministry as well as the Tourism Ministry. It also included the budgets for the Jerusalem Municipality and the Gihon Corporation. נווה פריצקי The work was carried out by the Jerusalem Development Authority.
Elkin stated, "The Kerem Tunnel project is a key instrument in achieving our goal to change the notion of transportation in Jerusalem." "The tunnel, which is being constructed to connect to the Jerusalem Ring Path will join the existing bike paths as well as ones that are paved in the neighborhoods. It's designed to encourage cycling within the city's residents and to promote the green revolution in transport 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 located west of Sorek and is currently used as an infrastructure tunnel.
"The Kerem tunnel project is an essential tool to realize the vision to change the concept of transportation throughout Jerusalem. "
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon
The current work includes road construction, installation blowers and advanced security systems to ensure the tunnel is safe to use throughout the year.
The Kerem Tunnel also allows access to special recreation areas which include the Ein Kerem neighborhood, the biblical zoo and aquarium as well as the historic natural springs of Ein Laban and Ein Haniyeh.