Starting Monday, King George and Nathan Strauss streets in Jerusalem are closing to vehicular traffic as part of the Blue Line light rail project, with buses rerouted and the area transformed into a pedestrian and rail-only zone.
Jerusalem commuters take note: Beginning Monday morning, sections of King George Street and Nathan Strauss Street in central Jerusalem have been permanently closed to vehicle traffic.
Streets Affected
The closure covers the stretch from Hanevi’im Street to Ben Yehuda Street, including the busy Jaffa Rd.–Strauss–King George intersection.
Bus Rerouting
Dozens of bus lines will be rerouted around the area, including lines 7, 17, 18, 19, 19A, 22, 34, 71, 72, 74, 75, 77, 77A, 78, 92, and several night lines.
New bus routes will run:
- Eastbound: via David Hamelech, Shlomo Hamelech, Shivtei Israel, and Hanevi’im
- Westbound: via King George, Shmuel Hanagid, Bezalel, Aliash, Kiach, and Hanevi’im
Passenger Guidance
- Passengers heading to the Strauss/Jaffa Center Light Rail stop can disembark at Strauss/Prague and walk.
- Those heading to the Jaffa Center Light Rail/King George stop should take a bus via Agripas, then walk.
- The *Transportation Ministry hotline (8787) is available for updated route information.
Permanent Change for the Blue Line
The closures are tied to construction of the Jerusalem Light Rail Blue Line. Once completed, the area will not reopen to vehicles but will remain a pedestrian-friendly, light rail-only corridor, mirroring the transformation of Jaffa Road.
This marks a major shift in Jerusalem’s urban transport design, prioritizing public transit and walkability in the city center.
