Metrotower Connects to Hotel Manu and Daewoo Foundation Building, Extends Skywalk to Seoul-ro 7017
Additional 70m Walkway Extended to Hilton Hotel... "Closer and More Convenient Route to Namsan"
Seoul-ro 7017 to Former Seoul Station Rooftop Passageway Scheduled for Early Opening This October
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Yuri] A new path directly connecting 'Seoullo 7017' to Namsan is opening.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 12th that it has completed a project connecting Seoullo 7017 to the adjacent large building, Metro Tower, with a 20m-long elevated pedestrian walkway, and creating a 70m pedestrian path extending directly to Namsan.
Seoullo 7017 is connected to surrounding areas such as Cheongpa-dong, Jungnim-dong, and Hoehyeon Station near Seoul Station, providing citizens with various nearby attractions and sights. It opened in May 2017. In July last year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government signed an agreement with Metro Tower to install a connecting passageway and carried out construction for seven months through public-private collaboration. The city and Jung-gu Office announced the completion of the connecting passageway construction project between Seoullo 7017 and Metro Tower on this day.
With this, the third elevated pedestrian walkway connecting Seoullo 7017 to nearby private buildings has been completed, following Hotel Manu and the Daewoo Foundation Building in 2017. The Seoul Metropolitan Government stated, "When the 'Seoul Station Connecting Passageway,' which connects to the rooftop of the old Seoul Station, opens in the second half of this year, the pedestrian network extending like capillaries from Seoullo 7017 to surrounding areas will become more densely established."
The city began connecting pedestrian paths between the Seoul Station overpass and five surrounding large buildings before the opening of Seoullo 7017 in 2015. Currently, negotiations with stakeholders are ongoing for the remaining two buildings (Seoul Square and Yonsei University Severance Building) to install connecting passageways.
This connecting passageway is notable not only for linking Seoullo 7017 and the building but also for extending a total 70m pedestrian path that allows convenient walking to the Hilton Hotel and Namsan. The Seoullo 7017-Metro Tower connecting passageway is 4m wide and 20m long. An additional pedestrian path was extended between the two buildings (main building and parking tower) of Metro Tower.
From Seoullo 7017, pedestrians can access the third floor of Metro Tower through the connecting passageway, and by crossing the pedestrian path continuing from the passageway, they can directly reach the Hilton Hotel in the direction of Namsan. Furthermore, following the pedestrian path behind the Hilton Hotel allows uninterrupted walking to Namsan Park.
In conjunction with the opening of the connecting passageway, Metro Tower expanded part of its building and installed an open-type elevator. The city expects that this elevator will improve accessibility to Seoullo 7017 for people with mobility challenges such as the disabled and elderly by enabling access to the first floor. The expanded building will also include cafes, restaurants, and convenience facilities.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government, in consultation with related organizations, plans to open the 'Old Seoul Station Rooftop Connecting Pedestrian Bridge' in October. In December last year, the city signed a business agreement with the Urban Railroad Facility Corporation and Hanwha Station regarding the project to connect Seoullo 7017 and the old Seoul Station rooftop. Through a project promotion council involving working-level officials from the three organizations, the location and design direction of the connecting passageway have been decided and are being reflected in the design. The old Seoul Station rooftop will be utilized as a rooftop garden project and exhibition space for the garden expo.
Yang Yong-taek, Director of Regeneration Policy Planning at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, said, "The installation of the Seoullo 7017 connecting passageway will make pedestrian access toward Namsan easier," adding, "It is expected to be used as a citizen-friendly space by creating green and resting areas between downtown buildings." He continued, "We will additionally promote various three-dimensional pedestrian path connections to ensure Seoullo 7017 is closely linked with surrounding buildings and create various convenience spaces such as pedestrian, cultural, and resting areas."
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