The fast track

By GAIL LICHTMAN
The city is aware of its traffic problems and is working to alleviate them, says municipal spokesman Gideon Schmerling. The main trouble spots are at the entrance to the city, the exit from Pisgat Ze'ev and the Begin-Golomb intersection, he says. • The opening of Road 9, from Motza to Ramot, has already significantly improved traffic problems at the entrance to the city, and the incoming public transportation lane, which is due to open soon, is also expected to ease congestion. And Road 16, which will run from Motza directly to Shaare Zedek through a tunnel under the city, is in its planning stages. • With respect to Pisgat Ze'ev, the municipality is planning a multi-level solution: a tunnel at the French Hill intersection so that those driving from east to west will pass under the intersection without a traffic light. Road 20 is planned to connect Pisgat Ze'ev from Sayeret Duchifat Boulevard directly to the Begin highway. • At the Begin-Golomb intersection, a bridge will connect the Holyland neighborhood, Ramat Sharett and Bayit Vagan directly to Begin North without any traffic lights. Roadwork is in the final stages from Golomb to the tunnels road. •And long-suffering Arnona residents may (after a decade of waiting) finally get an exit from their neighborhood to the Eastern Ring Road. All legal obstacles have been overcome and the necessary permits issued, clearing the way for work to begin. The municipality did not specify timeframes for completion of these projects.