Good news for the residents of Jerusalem: the new tunnel is opening

The Jerusalem Municipality and the Ministry of Transportation have announced that today (Sunday), a new tunnel adjacent to the southern neighborhoods of the city will be opened to traffic.

According to the responsible authorities, the new elevation separation will pass in proximity to the neighborhoods of Arnona, Jabal Mukaber, and Kibbutz Ramat Rachel, alleviating traffic congestion. "The separation is designed to provide vehicles traveling from east to west with the option to avoid the intersection of streets Asher Viner and Hevron, a central and heavily congested traffic artery, with an emphasis on the expansion of residential neighborhoods currently under construction in the area," they stated.

According to their statements, "Now, traveling through the tunnel constitutes a transportation solution and will allow uninterrupted travel at the intersection, as opposed to the way it has been until now." The tunnel is 300 meters long and will provide two lanes of travel in each direction. In the future, according to the municipality and the Ministry of Transportation, the project will also integrate with the light rail system.

Complete separation between the train and the vehicles

Furthermore, the separation will prioritize the passage of the light rail from north to south, which is planned to pass over the elevation separation's viaduct, and vehicles will also pass under the railway tracks. The separation project will assist in reducing traffic congestion resulting from the ongoing work on the Blue Line, which has already begun, and will continue to facilitate the progress of the construction work over the next few years.

Photo: Shai Shahar, courtesy of Moriah Jerusalem Development Company

Miri Regev: "Great relief for all the residents of the southern neighborhoods of Jerusalem"

The Minister of Transportation and Road Safety, Miri Regev, commented on the project that is opening, saying: "Jerusalem is preparing for the new era of the complete light rail network, which was the first of its kind in Israel to establish an advanced mass transit system and will be the first to cover the entire city with an efficient and fast network of lines, even before the end of the current decade. The tunnel that opened this week will integrate into the new transportation system and, at the same time, bring significant relief to all residents of the southern neighborhoods of Jerusalem. Congratulations to all the residents of the area."

The Mayor of Jerusalem, Moshe Leon, welcomed and emphasized the importance of easing transportation arteries in the city: "The subterranean elevation separation project on Asher Viner Street is an important transportation project that will help alleviate traffic congestion in South Jerusalem, as part of the city's new transportation future, including the construction of the Blue Line.

"The new tunnel will enable vehicles to pass more smoothly and efficiently, improving accessibility between neighborhoods. This project is another contribution in the efforts of the Jerusalem Municipality to enhance the quality of life for the city's residents. This separation will allow the city's residents to reach their destinations much more quickly and easily."

The Director-General of the Ministry of Transportation and Road Safety, Moshe Ben-Zaken, stated: "The subterranean elevation separation on Asher Viner Street that opened this week is another stage in the upgrade of Jerusalem's road infrastructure, aligning it with the future lines of the light rail. The project will provide immediate relief to anyone residing, working, or passing through the southern neighborhoods of the city. With the opening of the Blue Line of the light rail, it will enable smooth, uninterrupted traffic flow, both for the light rail and private vehicles."

Gilad Bar-Adon, CEO of Moriah Jerusalem Development Company, stated: "The subterranean elevation separation on Asher Viner Street serves as traffic preparation for the future Blue Line that will operate on Hevron Road and pass over the tunnel. Additionally, the subterranean separation provides an immediate solution to alleviate the heavy traffic congestion in the area, especially during this period when construction of the Blue Line has already commenced, with additional work planned for the coming years."