The Committee for Fundamental Planning Issues voted 12 to three to support a bridge over the Yitla Gorge along the planned Tel Aviv-Jerusalem high speed
rail line on Tuesday.
It was a setback for green groups that have been
pushing for a tunnel instead, which they say will minimize the damage to the Judean Hills Reserve.
Israel Railways has said that a tunnel would be vastly more expensive and time consuming on a project which is already running behind schedule.
The green groups dispute that assertion.
