A new road between Jerusalem and the coastal plain was officially opened today. The route replaces the “Burma Road” by-passing Latrun, which was built during the height of the battle for Jerusalem and its approaches. The “Burma Road” was found to be unsuitable as a permanent highway.
The new road, which is 25 miles long and at least 16 and one-half feet wide throughout its length, was built in eight weeks across difficult mountain terrain. It was decided to build the new road ten days after fighting broke out between the two United Nations truces. The route was blueprinted after consulting aerial photographs of ancient easel tracks which crossed the same area.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
