Groundwork for the Jerusalem light-rail system is moving
ahead at a rapid pace. As the Jerusalem Municipality
completes the foundation work along the route, the project
concession holder is doing its share of the task by making
preparations to lay the tracks.
The CityPass Group, which holds the concession for the first
phase of the light rail system, recently began preparation
work for starting to lay the tracks on Sederot Herzl in
August.
According to the plan the work includes changing the main
intersections, geological work, digging to a depth of 1.2
meters (4 feet) and stabilizing the substrata by laying two
layers of concrete. In August a special machine manufactured
by the French company Elstom is scheduled to arrive to lay
the tracks.
CityPass CEO Yaakov Edri reports that Sederot Herzl is the
first section where tracks will be laid, and in the coming
months the group will begin groundwork in Pisgat Ze'ev and
Hwy. 1. According to the agreement with the concession
holder, the first line will start running three years after
work gets underway. "The CityPass Group is committed to
making every effort to meet the timetable set in the
concession agreement and to bring the light rail system to
Jerusalem on time," said Edri.
Eitan Meir, director of the Jerusalem Municipality and
project chairman, said, "We are aware of the inconveniences
residents will experience during the track-laying work and
are doing the maximum to limit the disruption for
residents."
The estimated timetable is as follows:
2006 - Sederot Herzl; Sederot Moshe Dayan and Rechov Yekutiel
Adam in Pisgat Ze'ev; Hwy. 1 from French Hill to Rechov
Shivtei Yisrael.
2007 - Rechov Yaffo from Kikar Tzahal to Nordau Intersection;
Derech Shuafat as far as French Hill; Hwy. 1 and Rechov
Hatzanchanim.
2008 - Rechov Yaffo and Sederot Herzl near entrance to the
city.
On Sederot Herzl public transportation will be rerouted to
the private transportation lane for a period of 18 months. Be
prepared for congestion.
How far the line will extend into Neveh Yaakov remains
unclear. According to the Mayor's Office the mayor is aware
of the question of mehadrin arrangements and the fate
of Line 49 Alef.
