Hundreds of Haredim demonstrated Thursday night against ongoing Jerusalem Light Rail construction in the Bar-Ilan Street area, with the protest escalating as demonstrators breached barriers and attempted to enter the construction site.

The demonstration took place along the light rail expansion route in northern Jerusalem, where opposition to the project has repeatedly brought protesters into the streets in recent months.

During Thursday night's protest, demonstrators tore down fencing surrounding the work zone and attempted to enter the site, according to Israeli media reports. Materials at the construction area were also set on fire.

The Bar-Ilan construction project has become the focus of a prolonged campaign by groups within the Haredi community opposed to the light rail's expansion through the area.

Previous demonstrations have repeatedly disrupted traffic and construction. Police said during an August 10 protest that demonstrators attempted to block roads and damage the construction site, while another protest in July involved road blockages and deliberately set fires near the route.

The continuing confrontations have also caused substantial damage to the project. The Transportation Ministry said in July that vandalism connected with the protests had caused an estimated NIS 600 million in damage and delayed work on the light rail expansion by approximately two years.