600m Section of Yeongdong-daero Underground... Green Plaza Above Ground
1.07 Trillion Won Including GBC Public Contribution Fund Invested in Civil Engineering Works
[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] A 600m section between Samseong Station Intersection on Yeongdong-daero (Line 2 Samseong Station) and COEX Intersection (Line 9 Bongeunsa Station) in Seoul will be undergrounded, and a large-scale green plaza will be created above ground.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 13th that it has opened bids for four civil engineering construction sections to promote the 'Yeongdong-daero Metropolitan Complex Transfer Center' project.
According to the national railway network plan, considering the issues of different project entities and construction schedules for the three metropolitan express railways and the Wirye-Sinsa Line light rail transit being promoted on Yeongdong-daero, the city signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in 2016 and decided to integrate the transfer center construction project. After establishing the basic plan in 2017 and holding an international design competition, the basic design was finalized in February 2018. Last October, the project foundation was established when it was designated and announced as a metropolitan complex transfer center under the 'National Integrated Transportation System Efficiency Act.'
The metropolitan complex transfer center, which will be constructed underground in this section with a width of 63m and a depth of 53m (7 floors underground), will consist of a railway transportation transfer space (floors 4 to 7) and a public commercial space (floors 2 to 3). The existing road will be undergrounded passing through the first basement floor, and a 18,000㎡ green plaza will be created above ground.
The existing Line 2 Samseong Station, which has many transfer passengers, will have its platform expanded and remodeled to connect with the complex transfer center, and Line 9 Bongeunsa Station will be connected underground to the Wirye-Sinsa Line station and the public commercial space.
Also, the 'Light Beam' glass structure (6~9m wide, 12~20m high) proposed through the international design competition will be installed up to the 4th basement floor along a 480m north-south section centered on the green plaza. During the day, natural light will brighten the underground space, and at night, indoor lighting will be projected outside, providing a three-dimensional urban landscape together with COEX and Hyundai Motor GBC.
The construction period is about 7 years and 2 months, with completion planned by the end of 2027. The project cost for civil engineering works is 1.0759 trillion KRW, funded by metropolitan express railway projects, Wirye-Sinsa Line, GBC public contributions, and surrounding traffic improvement project charges.
To minimize traffic inconvenience during construction, the number of lanes around Samseong Station Intersection, where traffic demand is high, will be maintained as it is, and noise, fine dust, and other factors will be strictly managed below environmental standards to minimize inconvenience to local residents.
Park Sang-don, Director of the Urban Infrastructure Headquarters, said, "The Yeongdong-daero Metropolitan Complex Transfer Center will be a gateway supporting a permanent public transportation system in the Southeast International Exchange Complex District," adding, "We expect it to lead balanced development by connecting Seoul and the metropolitan area as one through faster and more convenient public transportation transfers."
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