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The Kerem Tunnel offers a unique adventure in hiking and riding for the benefit of

The Kerem Tunnel, Israel’s newest bicycle tunnel, has been opened as part the 42-kilometer cycle route which is a loop around the capital.

It connects Nahal Refaim to Emek Motza. The tunnel’s southern entrance can be found in Refaim Park below Ein Laban. The northern entrance is located in Nahal Ein Kerem about half one kilometer away from the Kerem junction.

On Thursday, Jerusalem and Heritage Minister Zeev Elkin, Mayor Michael, Avi Baleshnikov, Gihon chairman and hundreds of cyclists attended a ceremony to officially open the tunnel’s 2.1-kilometer-long length.

נווה פריצקי Jerusalem was once very popular tourist destination because of its rich history. Elkin said that the present tourism industry is one of Jerusalem’s historic treasures and also incorporates modern tourism. “The opening of the tunnel project is a different aspect of the growth of Jerusalem as well as it’s transformation into an attractive tourist destination for all types across Israel and around the world.

Elkin who, along with the Jerusalem Municipality spearheaded the project, explained that his ministry “invests hundreds of millions of shekels every year in the improvement of the tourism industry in Jerusalem and in the creation of new tourist attractions and ventures that link the rich history of our capital city’s eternal past to its future… I invite the cycling community to ride a secure and modern-day 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 dream of shifting the idea of transportation throughout Jerusalem. “The new tunnel connecting to 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 among the residents of Jerusalem and encourage the green movement in the capital.”

The Kerem Tunnel was first excavated in the late 1990s to relocate the main sewer line of the Gihon Corporation toward the purification plant located in Sorek The Sorek Tunnel is located just west of the city. It is currently used as an infrastructure tunnel that includes the fifth water line that connects to Jerusalem from the Mekorot water company.

“The Kerem Tunnel Project is an important tool in realizing the dream of transforming the concept of transportation across Jerusalem. ”

Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lon

To make the tunnel usable to the general public throughout the year, the works include road construction, as well as installation of blowers.

Kerem Tunnel Kerem Tunnel provides access to special recreation areas, such as Ein Kerem neighbourhood, the biblical aquarium and zoo as well the historic natural springs Ein Haniyeh, Ein Laban Ein Laban, and Ein Haniyeh.