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The Kerem Tunnel is a great location to go on a hike or ride.

The Kerem Tunnel is the first bike tunnel in Israel and was officially opened in the year 2000 as part the Jerusalem Ring Path, a 42-kilometer cycle route that circles the capital.

The tunnel connects Nahal Refaim and Emek Motza. Its southern entry is located in Refaim Park under Ein Laban. The northern entrance, Nahal Ein Kerem, is just half a kilometer away from the Nahal Ein Kerem junction.

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

Jerusalem was once a major tourist attraction due to its rich past. Elkin added that in addition to its rich history the modern tourist industry is incorporated into the city of Jerusalem. “The opening of this tunnel project is yet another milestone in the advancement of Jerusalem as an ideal tourist destination for all types of tourists in Israel and around the globe.”

נווה פריצקי Elkin, who heads the project in conjunction with Jerusalem Municipality said that his ministry invests millions of dollars in the development of Jerusalem’s tourism and the development of innovative activities and ventures that tie the glory historical past of Jerusalem to the future. I encourage the cycling community to ride a secure and modern route that takes you through Old Jerusalem.

Elkin’s ministry and the Tourism Ministry budgeted the project.

Elkin stated that the Kerem Tunnel project was a important tool to realize the goal of altering the way of transportation throughout Jerusalem. “The tunnel, which connects with the Jerusalem Ring Path, will connect the existing cycle routes within the city and will be constructed within the diverse areas. The tunnel is intended to encourage bicycle riding within the city’s residents and also to encourage an environmentally sustainable transportation system in Jerusalem.”

In the late 1990s, the Kerem Tunnel was excavated to relocate the main sewer line from Gihon Corporation to the Sorek purification plant. It is now used as an infrastructure tunnel. It is also home to the fifth water line to Jerusalem from the Mekorot water company.

“The Kerem tunnel project is the central instrument for achieving the vision to change the way of transport in Jerusalem. ”

Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon

The work currently in progress includes road construction, installation of blowers as well as modern electrical and safety systems, to ensure the tunnel is safe for pedestrians to travel through all year round.

The Kerem Tunnel also allows access to unique recreation sites which include the Ein Kerem neighborhood, the biblical zoo and aquarium along with the historic natural springs in Ein Laban and Ein Haniyeh.