Israel's new Tunnels Road, an extension of Route 60, is set to open soon and connect southern Jerusalem to the Gush Etzion settlement complex. The project to expand the controversial route is seen in the West Bank as part of Israel’s plan to expand settlements and Judaize the city of Jerusalem.

According to the website of the project’s contractor, Moriah Jerusalem Development Corporation, Route 60 will serve residents of the settlements of Gush Etzion, Beitar Illit, Efrat and Kiryat Arba, with daily traffic of more than 1,300 vehicles and 30 buses.

The road, according to the corporation, extends over 12 kilometers from the Rosemaryn junction in Jerusalem to the settlement of Elazar, south of Bethlehem. The project includes the construction of a 360-meter bridge and a 270-meter tunnel in the northern section of the road.

The 1-billion-shekel ($287.5 million) project, rolled out in 2018, will be Israel's first road with reversible lanes. In the morning, the road will be open for traffic from the direction of Gush Etzion to Jerusalem and in the afternoon, it will change in the opposite direction from Jerusalem to Gush Etzion.