Jerusalem Opens Northbound Bus Lane on Begin Road

Jerusalem opened a northbound public-transport lane on Begin Road on Sunday morning, November 1, adding dedicated space for buses between the Lifta tunnels and the Har Hotzvim high-tech park. The Transport Ministry and Jerusalem Municipality carried out the project through the municipal development company Moriah. The road section has been widened from three lanes to four, with the new right-hand lane reserved for public transport. The project is intended to shorten bus journeys and improve reliability, particularly for residents of northern Jerusalem and Ramot. Mayor Moshe Lion welcomed the opening as a step toward improving transport in the city and reducing congestion. The lane in the opposite direction is expected to open in January 2027. When that phase is complete, the project is intended to provide continuous public-transport lanes in both directions for more than two kilometers between the Golda Meir interchange and the Lifta tunnels. The wider project also includes a bridge for public transport, a bicycle path and a pedestrian passage. The opening followed advance preparations announced by the municipality on October 28. That notice scheduled overnight closures of the descent from the city entrance to Begin north, toward Ramot, on October 28–29 and October 31–November 1, between midnight and 5 a.m. The municipality said: “Public transport arrangements will change,” with the Shaarei Yerushalayim/Lifta stop temporarily replaced by alternative stops during the works.