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Heat over troubled bridge By Esther Zandberg If it wasn't so symbolic, it would certainly have been funny: The official ceremony opening the light rail bridge in Jerusalem - the same light rail train that was meant to solve the city's transportation problems - closed down the entrance to the capital, and half the city was sentenced to huge and frustrating traffic jams. In the heat of the dispute over the external appearance of the bridge - designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava - and whether or not it is deserving to be "the symbol of modern Jerusalem," as poeticized by then Mayor Ehud Olmert, is the much more important issue which has been pushed to the sidelines: the question of the light rail line itself, and what it will, or will not, do to Jerusalem. Advertisement If the light rail bridge was sold as a symbol, then the light rail system was the hope for the city. Not just because it would transport this many people from here to there, but because it would provide a lifeline for downtown, the city center. Jaffa Road was supposed to transform almost magically from "a dilapidated Ottoman street" into a shiny and stylish European thoroughfare, with the light rail tram at its heart. Behind this customary description of the new downtown hides not just urban stupidity and racism, but also real estate and financial interests. In any case, the planning and construction of the light rail has been accompanied for a number of years by a well-oiled public relations machine. It seems as if the computer-generated images of Jaffa Road with the transportation miracle sailing down its center have already come to life, and the world has changed. Nevertheless, the full picture is much less rosy than the PR. While it is true that Jaffa Road will turn into a pedestrian mall once the trams start running, the price that other streets in the area will pay will more than make up for any good on Jaffa Road. The traffic that will be banned from Jaffa Road to make room for the trains - according to the agreement signed with the operator - will flow instead onto the roads surrounding the center, and it will turn these urban streets into main roads, and drive out the soul of downtown. Worst off will be Prophets Street, a wonderful, historic little neighborhood with unique architecture that may be turned into a polluted and congested traffic artery. The light rail was marketed as bringing an economic resurgence to downtown. In Israel, this is a code word for huge real estate developments, and already today there are tens of thousands of square meters of offices and parking lots just waiting to be built in the area around Jaffa Road. The potential for destruction by these enormous developments in a historic urban center is incredible, and has happened more than once in Jerusalem in the past - but the lessons were never learned. Downtown Jerusalem is a heterogenous area that is alive, despite the intentional slander brought against it. It may need a mild resuscitation, but the light rail may cause irreparable damage. No bridge will make up for that. The Calatrava bridges around the world are brilliant in their design, engineering and marketing - and have earned their popularity. About 40 of them have been built so far all over the globe, so in a certain way they are the McDonalds of bridges. They all have the same processed and globalized esthetic, easy to digest but whose nutritional value is suspect. Calatrava bridges are in their own way the Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball team of their branch. They trample all the competition, and wherever they spread their wings, there is no room underneath for other worthy bridges to sprout. Today, when you say bridge, you mean Calatrava. What will be tomorrow with "the symbol of modern Jerusalem?" Bookmark to del.icio.us   Kosher Idol A new Haredi reality show called 'The Upcoming Voice' makes 'American Idol' kosher. Chief Rabbi's savior New look at Nazi-era papers names mysterious rescuer of future Chief Rabbi.

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