The Western Wall Heritage Foundation announced that maintenance work on the Mughrabi Bridge began this morning (Sunday), after expert engineers warned for a long time about the danger of the dilapidated structure.
The work will continue in the coming days, during which part of the women's aid in the Western Wall plaza will be fenced off.
The works in the complex // Photo: The Western Wall Heritage Foundation,
As first reported by Israel Today, an expert engineer hired by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation has warned that the Mughrabi Bridge is unsafe in the long run, and that it is likely to recommend not allowing the bridge to be used again.
In a letter sent last May to the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, Ofer Cohen, an expert engineer, clarified that this is a dangerous bridge, which could even collapse.
"Israel Today" has learned that due to the sensitive issue, the Prime Minister's Office dealt with the issue.
The Mughrabi Bridge.
Safety hazard // Photo: Oren Ben Hakon,
Jerusalem City Engineer Yoel Even contacted Mordechai Eliav, director general of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, earlier this month, asking him to promote the construction of a permanent bridge on the site. Stone noted that the current bridge should be renovated to prevent it from collapsing, but at the same time, stressed that a permanent bridge should be hastened.
The Mughrabi Bridge, which leads from the Western Wall to the Temple Mount, has long been considered a dangerous structure, but attempts to renovate it or replace it have been in vain due to its significant sensitivity to the Arab world. Now, it seems, a solution has been found and maintenance work has begun.