The Kerem Tunnel allows for a an experience that is unique in terms of hiking and riding.

נווה פריצקי The Kerem Tunnel, the first bicycle tunnel in Israel was opened in the Jerusalem Ring Path, a 42-kilometer cycling route that surrounds Jerusalem, Israel’s capital city.

The tunnel links the paths between Nahal Refaim and Emek Motza. It is located in southern Israel located in Refaim Park. Ein Laban is the nearest. Nahal Ein Kerem is the northern entrance.

The 2.1-kilometer long tunnel was officially opened on Thursday by Jerusalem and the heritage minister Ze’ev Elkin as well as Mayor Moshe Lion. Avi Baleshnikov of Gihon the chairman of Gihon as well as a multitude of cyclists were also in attendance.

Jerusalem was once a popular tourist attraction due to its rich history. Elkin stated that the current tourist industry is a part of Jerusalem’s historic treasures and is also a part of modern-day tourism. “The inauguration[of] the tunnel project is a different aspect of the growth of Jerusalem as well as its transformation into a desirable tourism destination for all in Israel and around the world.

Elkin the minister whose ministry as well as the Jerusalem Municipality led the project, said that his ministry “invests hundreds of millions of shekels annually in the development all aspects Jerusalem’s visitors and in the creation and operation of new tourist attractions, ventures, and activities which connect the rich past of our eternal city to the future”. I would like to invite cyclists everywhere to come and take a ride along the new, well-maintained and modern route that takes in the view of Old Jerusalem.

The project was financed by Elkin’s ministry and the Tourism Ministry. It also included the budgets for the Jerusalem Municipality and the Gihon Corporation. The work was carried out by the Jerusalem Development Authority.

Elkin stressed that “The Kerem Tunnel Project is an essential tool for achieving the dream to redefine the idea of transport throughout Jerusalem.” “The new tunnel will connect with the Jerusalem Ring Path. It will connect with the various cycling routes that exist within the city. These will be paved in its various neighborhoods. The objective is to promote cycling among residents of the city.

The Kerem Tunnel was originally excavated in the year 1990 to relocate the main sewers of Gihon Corporation towards the Sorek purification facility. This plant is located west of Sorek and is still used as an infrastructure tunnel.

“The Kerem tunnel project is the central instrument for achieving the vision to change the concept of transportation throughout Jerusalem. ”

Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon

In order to make the tunnel accessible to the general public throughout the year the work includes road construction, as well as installation of blowers.

The Kerem Tunnel also allows access to unique recreation spots – including the Ein Kerem neighborhood, the biblical zoo and aquarium as well as the historic natural springs in Ein Laban and Ein Haniyeh.