Mugrabi bridge plan to be reexamined
Company which owns land in Mugrabi Gate area, near Temple Mount, goes back on request to build bridge following protests in Arab world resulting from construction works; alternative for bridge will be looked into, company says
Meanwhile, right-wing Knesset members continued to arrive at the area in order to express their support of the excavation works.
The company, which owns the land in the area, filed the request to construct the bridge about four months ago. The approval was granted about a month ago, but following the tension resulting from the construction works, Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski decided to reexamine the plan.
Following Lupolianski's decision, the Jewish Quarter Development Company also decision to withdraw its original request to build the bridge.
According to the company's CEO, Nissim Arazi, the company will look into an alternative for the bridge, and if no alternative is found, it will try and submit its request through the statutory procedure of the city planning.
It should be noted that the archaeological excavation works taking place in the area are to continue in the next eight months as planned, as they are unrelated to the construction of the new bridge.
It should be noted that the archaeological excavation works taking place in the area are to continue in the next eight months as planned, as they are unrelated to the construction of the new bridge.
Arazi added that an alternative solution would have to be found for the bridge, as the existing bridge, which is used by tourists and Jews to approach the Temple Mount was about to collapse.
He said that the withdrawal of the request would not delay the construction date significantly and that the alternative construction would begin in about eight months if they approvals for it are received.
Neta Sela contributed to the report
