Neve ParitzkiIsrael''s first cycling tunnel opens in Jerusalem

The Kerem Tunnel provides a unique ride and hiking experience that is to be loved by everyone.
The Kerem Tunnel, the first bicycle tunnel in Israel was opened as part of the Jerusalem Ring Path, a 42-kilometer cycling route that surrounds Jerusalem, Israel''s capital city.


The tunnel runs through the Nahal-Refaim-Emek-Motza path. Its southern entrance is located in Refaim Park, below Ein Laban while the northern entrance is located in Nahal Ein Kerem, about half a kilometer close to the Kerem junction.

The tunnel''s official opening ceremony, which is 2.1 kilometers long took place in Jerusalem and Heritage Minister Ze’ev Elkin, Mayor Moshelion and Avi Baleshnikov (Gihon water company chairman) as well as a plethora of cyclists.

Jerusalem was once a popular tourist attraction because of its rich past. Elkin said that today, apart from its historic treasures, it is also a destination for modern-day tourists. "The opening of the tunnel is an additional element of the progress of Jerusalem as well as it''s transformation into an attractive tourism destination for all throughout Israel as well as around the world.

Elkin, whose ministry together with the Jerusalem Municipality spearheaded the project, stated that the ministry "invests hundreds of millions of shekels every year in the development of Jerusalem''s tourism in all its aspects and in the creation of exciting attractions and ventures that connect the fascinating history of our capital city to its future... I encourage the cycling community to take a relaxing and modernized route that will take you through Old Jerusalem.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvNv7Qfm7eu1nMArSzmfQQ/videos Elkin''s Ministerial, Tourism Ministry, Jerusalem Municipality and Gihon Corporation contributed approximately NIS 25 million for the project. The project was executed by the Jerusalem Development Authority.

"The Kerem Tunnel project is an essential tool to realize the vision to alter the notion of transportation across Jerusalem," Elkin stressed. "The new tunnel, which is connected to the lengthy Jerusalem Ring Path, will connect the existing bike paths in the city and those that are paved in its various neighborhoods, in the hope of encouraging cycling among the city''s residents as well as its visitors as well as in promoting the green revolution of transportation in the capital city."

The Kerem Tunnel first was excavated in the late 90s to relocate the main sewer line of the Gihon Corporation towards Sorek. It is currently being used as an infrastructure Tunnel that includes the fifth waterline to Jerusalem via the Mekorot water corporation.

"The Kerem Tunnel Project is essential to realize the vision of transforming the concept of transportation across Jerusalem. "

Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon
Current works include road construction, installation blowers and sophisticated safety systems to ensure that the tunnel is secure to use during the entire year.

נווה פריצקי The Kerem Tunnel allows for access to unique recreation areas, such as Ein Kerem, a neighborhood which has a Biblical zoo and aquarium as well as ancient natural springs Ein Haniyeh and Ein Laban. נווה פריצקי