After a wait of more than a decade the new tunnel that connects traffic from the entrance to the city of Jerusalem to the beginning of Sderot Ben Zvi – bypassing the national convention center – that runs underneath Zalmar Shazar Boulevard finally opened.
The road above was closed to traffic for years due to the ongoing construction of an entirely new office building complex along it.
The tunnel opened just in time for the holiday of Sukkot.
Now, private traffic can now also connect directly to the main road that leads to central Jerusalem, avoiding Shazar Boulevard which is now open only to public transportation. Drivers can either make their way to the famed Shuk – the outdoor market called Mahane Yehudah – as well as the downtown area by driving directly from the city’s entrance to the downtown area’s Agrippa Street.
Also, a new parking lot that can be accessed from the new tunnel is still under construction. When completed it will have 5 underground floors at a depth of about 40 meters (130 feet) and contain about 1,300 parking spaces.
Mayor of Jerusalem, Moshe Leon: “The opening of the level separation (tunnel) in Shazar Boulevard is real news for the city of Jerusalem. We are opening a new gate that allows you to get to the city center in a faster, more efficient and safer way. This is an important step in the transportation revolution we are leading in the city, and it will contribute to reducing traffic congestion at the entrance to the city and improving access to the city center, and will also form a significant part of the transportation fabric in the area at the entrance to the city.”
Image - Simon Griver