Trump visit, Jerusalem Day to tangle traffic in capital

Traffic in and around Jerusalem is expected to snarl into a hot mess of honking cars and knotted jams as police close roads and block off routes for the visit of US President Donald Trump and events marking the 50th anniversary of the Israeli capture of the east side of the city this week.

Traffic problems began Sunday evening as police closed off several roads for a sound and light show ahead of Jerusalem Day, and sporadic road closures are expected to continue into Wednesday afternoon, when a major march passes through downtown to the Old City.

Some of the largest headaches will come early Monday afternoon, when Trump arrives at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv and police close off Route 1 for him as he makes his way to Jerusalem.

The road will be closed off again the next day as he makes his way back to the airport.

Police said the closure was a precaution in case the president is unable to fly by helicopter to Jerusalem as planned, but will happen in either case.

Some 11,000 officers will secure Trump during his time in Jerusalem in an operation directly commanded by Police Chief Roni Alsheich, police said Sunday.

Police advised the public to use the Waze navigation app to get around the city and said the app would be updated constantly to keep drivers on the best routes.

“We strive to minimize the disruption of daily life, and call on the public to be patient, to keep aware of the changes in traffic arrangements and to act with caution and safety,” the municipality said in a statement.

These are the scheduled traffic arrangements for the week.

Sunday, May 21, 2017: Opening ceremony for the 50th anniversary reunification celebrations

A sound and light show is to be projected onto the walls of the Old City.

Between 4 p.m. and 11 p.m., vehicles will be blocked from traveling along the following streets: Bar-Lev, Heil Hahandassah, the IDF Tunnel in both directions, Hatzanhanim, Hebron Road, Hativat Jerusalem, Yitzhak Kariv, King Solomon, King David, Emil Botta, Shamai, Yanai, Ben Sira, Shlomzion Hamalka, Agron, Ma’ale HaShalom, Jaffa Gate.

The light show will attended by President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, Culture and Sports Minister Miri Regev, and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat.

Members of the public are advised to use the free parking at Teddy Stadium or the HaLeom parking at Cinema City. Shuttle services will be available and there will be an increased light rail service to ferry visitors to the event from 8 p.m. till midnight.

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Monday, May 22, 2017: Trump’s visit

From 12 p.m., the following streets will be intermittently blocked: Hebron Road, David Remez, King David, Jabotinsky, Hanasi, Ha’ari, Azza, Palomar, Hativat Jerusalem, Jaffa Gate, Keren Hayesod, Batei Machseh, Ma’ale HaShalom, Agron, Balfour, Smolenskin.

The municipality advised the public to use alternative routes via Begin Boulevard, Herzl Boulevard, Kiryat Moshe Interchange to Begin South, Haim Bar Lev in the direction of Agron and Ben Tzvi in ​​the direction of Rabin.

Light rail services will continue as usual for most of the day, the statement said.

However, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. there will be changes in service as follows:

The light rail will run between the Heil Ha’avir (Pisgat Ze’ev) station and the Kikar Denia station. At intermittent times during those hours, based on police instructions, there will be no service at the Yefe Nof and Mount Herzl stations.

With the conclusion of Trump’s movements, according to police instructions, the light rail will resume full service along the entire line.

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Tuesday, May 27, 2017: Trump’s visit

From 8:30 a.m. the following streets will be intermittently blocked: King David, David Remez, Hebron Road, Manhat, Ma’avar Rachel, Gihon, Tzruya, Ein Rogel in the direction of Hebron Road, Bethlehem Road northbound, Azza, Herzog, the train northbound, Azza, Herzog, Beit, Bezek, Shneur, Burla, Nayot, Herzl and Yad Vashem.

The public is advised to use alternate routes via the following streets: Agron, Haim Barlev, Jaffa Gate, Hebron Road – Miriam Ha’hashmonait, Keren Hayesod, Emek Refaim, Begin, Herzl, Ramban.

Between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. there will be disruptions in light rail service including intermittent disruptions between the Heil Ha’avir station (Pisgat Ze’ev) and the Kikar Denia station. Based on police instruction, there will intermittently be no service at the Yefe Nof and Mount Herzl stations.

With the conclusion of Trump’s visit to Yad Vashem, and with permission from police, the light rail will resume full service along the line.

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Wednesday, May 24, 2017: Jerusalem Day Flag Parade

Between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. traffic will be blocked on the following streets as well as access roads leading to them: Bezalel, King George, Keren Hayesod, Agron, Yitzhak Kariv, King Solomon, King David, Hativat Jerusalem, Sultan Suleiman, Jericho, Ma’aleh HaShalom, Highway 1 (from the Mateh Artzi Junction southward), Hebron Road from Miriam Hahashmonait.

From 5 p.m. till 8:15 p.m. there will limited light rail service between the Mount Herzl station and the Central Bus Station, and between the Heil Ha’avir (Pisgat Ze’ev) station and the Ammunition Hill station. During that period there will be no service between the Ammunition Hill station and the Central Bus Station.

After the parade, following police instruction, the light rail will return to full service.

Public transportation including bus services will be directed along alternative routes. The public is advised to contact the Egged bus service for details, the statement said.

Wednesday, May 24, 2017: Other events

Between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Shragai Street will be closed due to a state ceremony at Ammunition Hill

Between Wednesday 5 p.m. and 1 a.m. Thursday morning, Tzvi Yehuda Street between Herzl Boulevard and Ha’illui street will be closed due to a Jerusalem Day event at the Merkaz Harav Yeshiva.

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