The section between Latrun and Jerusalem roughly follows an ancient path connecting Jaffa and Jerusalem.
At the entrance to Jerusalem, the steep and winding rise was known as Ma'aleh HaRoma'im (Romans' Ascent) and covers a 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) path rising 200 metres (660 ft) in altitude.
The Jaffa–Jerusalem road was initially made accessible for wheeled vehicles by the Ottomans in 1867 and since then served as the main highway to Jerusalem, favored over more topographically convenient routes such as Route 443.
The largest bell for the church of the Augusta Victoria complex, built between 1907–1910, weighed six tonnes and required that the road be widened and paved.

In 1948 the Latrun section of the highway was taken over by Jordan and traffic was diverted to a new route called "Derekh Ha'Gvura" (Road of Bravery), which is now part of Highways 44 and 38.
In 1965 the old highway was widened to four lanes between Sha'ar HaGai and Jerusalem, and after the Six-Day War the Latrun section was reopened and an interchange was built at Mevaseret Zion (Harel Interchange).
During the 1970s a bypass was built around the village of Abu Ghosh, including the construction of Hemed Interchange.
The section between Latrun and Jerusalem roughly follows an ancient path connecting Jaffa and Jerusalem. At the entrance to Jerusalem, the steep and winding rise was known as Ma'aleh HaRoma'im (Romans' Ascent) and covers a 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) path rising 200 metres (660 ft) in altitude. The Jaffa–Jerusalem road was initially made accessible for wheeled vehicles by the Ottomans in 1867 and since then served as the main highway to Jerusalem, favored over more topographically convenient routes such as Route 443. The largest bell for the church of the Augusta Victoria complex, built between 1907–1910, weighed six tonnes and required that the road be widened and paved.
In 1948 the Latrun section of the highway was taken over by Jordan and traffic was diverted to a new route called "Derekh Ha'Gvura" (Road of Bravery), which is now part of Highways 44 and 38. In 1965 the old highway was widened to four lanes between Sha'ar HaGai and Jerusalem, and after the Six-Day War the Latrun section was reopened and an interchange was built at Mevaseret Zion (Harel Interchange). During the 1970s a bypass was built around the village of Abu Ghosh, including the construction of Hemed Interchange.
Highway 1 (Israel/Palestine)