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The Kerem Tunnel allows for a the most unique riding and hiking experience.

The Kerem Tunnel, Israel’s first bicycle tunnel, was opened as part of the Jerusalem Ring Path. This 42-kilometer cycle route is located around Jerusalem.

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

The 2.1-kilometers-long tunnel project was officially inaugurated during a celebration on Thursday attended by Jerusalem and Heritage Minister Ze’ev Elkin Mayor Moshe Lion, Gihon water company chairman Avi Baleshnikov, and a slew of cyclists.

נווה פריצקי Jerusalem was a sought-after tourist destination because of its rich and fascinating past. Elkin stated that the current tourist industry is a part of Jerusalem’s historic treasures and also incorporates modern tourism. “The opening of this tunnel project [is] another part in the development Jerusalem. It transforms the city into an attractive destination for tourists of any kind of crowd within Israel, and worldwide.”

Elkin, whose ministry and the Jerusalem Municipality led the project, stated that the Jerusalem Municipality’s ministry “invests hundreds to millions of shekels annually to develop all aspects of Jerusalem’s visitors and in the creation and operation of new attractions, ventures , and other attractions that connect the glorious history of Jerusalem’s eternal city to its future”. I encourage all cyclists to come and take a ride along the modern, well-maintained route that takes in the view of Old Jerusalem.

Elkin’s Ministerial, Tourism Ministry, Jerusalem Municipality and Gihon Corporation contributed approximately NIS 25,000,000 to the project. The project was executed by the Jerusalem Development Authority.

Elkin stated that the Kerem Tunnel project is an important tool in realizing the vision to transform the idea of transport in Jerusalem. Elkin said that the new tunnel is connected to the Jerusalem Ring Path and will connect with existing bike routes. It will also be paved throughout its various areas. The tunnel will be a great way to help cyclists and promote green transport in Jerusalem.

The Kerem Tunnel first was excavated in the 1990s to create a main sewer line for the Gihon Corporation towards Sorek. It is now being used as an infrastructure tunnel which includes the fifth waterline to Jerusalem from the Mekorot water corporation.

“The Kerem tunnel is a crucial tool for achieving the dream of transforming Jerusalem’s transportation system. ”

Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lee

To make the tunnel accessible to the public year-round, the works include road construction, as well as installing blowers.

The Kerem Tunnel provides access to exclusive recreation spots, including Ein Kerem neighbourhood, the biblical aquarium and zoo as well the historic natural springs Ein Haniyeh, Ein Laban, and Ein Haniyeh.