JERUSALEM, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- The first tunnel boring machine of Tel Aviv's light rail Green Line G3-2 section kicked off its tunneling on Sunday, marking a milestone stage of the Chinese-constructed project aiming to ease traffic congestion in the Israeli metropolis.
The project, undertaken by China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), is expected to complete in 2025 with a 5.7 kilometer-long double-lane tunnel, two access sections, one underground station as well as three underground structures.
Li Jiqin, executive general manager of CSCEC International, said the team has conquered a series of challenges to push forward the project.
Haim Glik, CEO of the NTA-Metropolitan Mass Transit System, said Tel Aviv has been facing traffic congestion for a long time, and the completion of the Green Line is expected to greatly reduce the traffic pressure for commuters.
The Tel Aviv Light Rail Project is the largest government-chartered infrastructure project since the founding of Israel, in which the Green Line will connect the center of Tel Aviv with the northern and southern regions.
After completion, the 39-km Green Line will run from Rishon LeZion, an Israeli city south of Tel Aviv, northwards through Holon, then through central Tel Aviv before splitting into two northbound branches.
Produced by Xinhua Global Service
