Demolition of Gwangju Baegun Overpass... 'After 31 Years'

Gwangju City, Ceremony on the 4th... "Hoping to Become a New Path of Hope Created Together with Citizens"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] The demolition of Baegun Overpass in Gwangju began on the 4th. It has been 31 years.

On the afternoon of the 4th, Gwangju Metropolitan City held a demolition ceremony for Baegun Overpass attended by Mayor Lee Yong-seop, Gwangju City Council Chairman Kim Dong-chan, National Assembly members Yoon Young-duk and Lee Byung-hoon, Gwangju Superintendent of Education Jang Hwi-guk, Nam-gu District Mayor Kim Byung-nae, Nam-gu Residents' Autonomy Committee, and citizens.

Since its opening in November 1989, Baegun Overpass has served as a bridge connecting Baegun-dong to Juwol-dong, acting as a gateway for traffic in Gwangju.

The ceremony, themed "Adieu, Baegun Overpass!! For a New Road," was held on top of the Baegun Overpass, where citizens witnessed the final moments of the overpass disappearing into history.

The ceremony featured various programs remembering Baegun Overpass.

Citizens walked the last path of Baegun Overpass together with a tape-cutting event.

Following calligrapher Moon Jae-pyeong's work titled "Opening a New Road," citizens performed a rose petal scattering performance expressing hopes for safe demolition and a new path, and left "messages of hope."

Mayor Lee Yong-seop stated, "Baegun Overpass has served as a bridge connecting all directions in Gwangju, but on the other hand, there have been continuous issues that it damages the cityscape and hinders the growth of surrounding commercial areas. With the construction of Urban Railway Line 2, the overpass will be demolished, and transportation infrastructure and systems such as the underground road will be completely transformed, opening a new era."

He continued, "With this demolition and the large-scale urban regeneration New Deal project promoted by Gwangju City, if Baegun Square is revitalized, it will be a golden opportunity to create another successful model that revives the dying downtown. We will ensure that the new road created together with citizens becomes a hopeful path that elevates Gwangju as the future of the Republic of Korea."

Meanwhile, last year, as Gwangju City officially pushed forward the construction of Urban Railway Line 2, it confirmed the demolition of Baegun Overpass and decided to concurrently promote the "Daenam-daero Alignment Improvement Project in front of Nam-gu Office" and the "Phase 1 Construction of Gwangju Urban Railway Line 2" to reduce budget and minimize citizen inconvenience.

Once the overpass is demolished and the urban railway Line 2 and underground road are constructed as planned, it is expected that much of the previously inconvenient traffic will be alleviated, and issues harming traffic safety and city aesthetics will be resolved.

Since Baegun Overpass has been closed from midnight on the day, the city is implementing traffic measures considering on-site conditions, such as securing two additional lanes for two-way traffic, changing surrounding signal system cycles, and allowing left turns to minimize traffic inconvenience for citizens.

Additionally, the city plans to intensively promote construction guidance and detour information during commuting hours at six key points entering Baegun Overpass.