In the heart of Jerusalem, the light rail project is reaching a decisive moment. Fresh steel tracks now stretch across Jaffa Street, modern stations are taking shape, and new sidewalks are being laid. Where heavy machinery and clouds of dust once dominated, calm has returned, offering residents a glimpse of what the city center may soon become<\/p>\n
Large sections of construction are already complete and are being prepared for initial test runs without passengers. The sight of gleaming rails and organized sidewalks marks a turning point. Only months ago, Jerusalemites struggled through endless traffic jams, blocked sidewalks, and detours. Today, evidence of progress is finally visible<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not perfect yet, but it\u2019s a sign of life,\u201d says Efrat Cohen, who owns a clothing store near the Mahane Yehuda Market. \u201cWe thought it would never end, but suddenly there is quiet, there are rails, and the construction fences are disappearing. That\u2019s a good sign<\/p>\n
Near the old Shaare Zedek building and further east toward the central post office, the pace of work is clear. The municipality and Israel\u2019s Ministry of Transport promise that the new line will be operational by January 2026<\/p>\n
For years, Jaffa Street \u2014 Jerusalem\u2019s main artery \u2014 became a constant construction zone. Small businesses collapsed, buses were rerouted, and pedestrians were forced through a maze of fences and trenches. \u201cWe went through hell,\u201d recalls Shlomo, who owns a small grocery store in central Jerusalem. \u201cMost of my customers stopped coming because access was impossible, and there was never parking<\/p>\n