Jerusalem: High-Voltage Lines to Be Moved Underground for Safety and Urban Beauty*
The Ministry of Energy and the Jerusalem Municipality have officially announced the launch of a large-scale project to relocate high-voltage power lines into underground conduits. The first key stage of the program will be the Givat HaTzarfatit (French Hill) neighborhood, where high-voltage wires have passed through residential quarters for decades.
Minister of Energy Eli Cohen and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion have reached an agreement to implement this strategic step, which will address several critical tasks at once. The primary goal of the project is to ensure the safety and reliability of the power supply. Underground lines are fully protected from extreme weather conditions, such as winter storms and snowfall, which eliminates the risk of wire snaps and guarantees electricity in homes even during emergencies.
Beyond the technical side, the relocation of power lines will serve as a powerful catalyst for urban development. Previously, the proximity of high-voltage wires to residential buildings blocked many plans for construction and neighborhood expansion. Now that the lines will go underground, the city will be able to unfreeze projects for new housing, kindergartens, and public parks. This will also solve the long-standing problem of visual pollution and electromagnetic radiation near residential windows.
“Placing the high-voltage line underground in Jerusalem is good news for the residents; it will increase the reliability of the power supply system and improve the city’s appearance,” noted Eli Cohen, Minister of Energy.
