New Public Transit Lane Opens on Begin Highway in Jerusalem
A new public transport lane opened Sunday on Jerusalem's Begin Highway, aiming to speed up bus travel and ease congestion as part of a major municipal transit upgrade.
Jerusalem commuters and public transport users received a significant boost on Sunday morning with the opening of a new dedicated public transportation lane on Begin Highway, stretching from the Lifta Tunnels toward Har Hotzvim. The project is spearheaded by the Ministry of Transport and the Jerusalem Municipality through the Moriah Jerusalem Development Corporation.
As part of the infrastructure upgrade, the highway was widened from three to four lanes, with the rightmost lane designated exclusively for buses and public transit. Officials expect the new lane to substantially improve bus flow, shorten travel times for transit passengers, and help ease traffic congestion for all motorists traveling along the vital urban corridor.
Additional improvements are scheduled for completion in January, when the opposing lane opens to traffic. This milestone will establish a continuous public transit corridor in both directions spanning over two kilometers, stretching from the Golda Meir Interchange to the Lifta Tunnels and the exit ramp toward Givat Shaul and Ben Gurion Boulevard.
The complex engineering initiative also features the construction of a dedicated public transport bridge, alongside a new bicycle path and pedestrian walkway overlooking the scenic landscape west of Jerusalem. Despite carrying out the works on one of the capital's busiest thoroughfares, project managers maintained vehicular traffic flow throughout the construction period.
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion emphasized the strategic importance of the infrastructure upgrade during the launch.
"Jerusalem is undergoing an unprecedented transportation revolution, and the opening of the new public transport lane on Begin Highway is another major step toward making our city more accessible, connected, and advanced," Lion stated.
City leaders noted that the Begin Highway project forms part of a joint effort involving the Ministry of Transport, the Jerusalem Transportation Masterplan, the municipality, and Moriah to strengthen the public transit network and enhance mobility for hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors.
