Completion of Technical Proposal Evaluation for Incheon 3rd Interconnection Bridge Sections 1 and 2... Accelerating Construction Start in November

Hanwha Construction·POSCO Construction Consortium Ranks 1st in Sections 1 and 2
Length 4.67km, 6 Lanes Two-Way... Completion Target December 2025
World's Tallest 180m Bridge Observatory and Pedestrian·Bicycle Path Installation

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] With the completion of the technical proposal evaluations for Sections 1 and 2, the main construction of the Incheon Third Yeonryuk Bridge is set to begin within the year, aiming for completion in 2025, accelerating the project’s progress. The Third Yeonryuk Bridge is the third sea bridge connecting Yeongjongdo, where Incheon International Airport is located, to the mainland, following Yeongjong Bridge and Incheon Bridge.

According to the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority on the 17th, Hanwha Construction Consortium ranked first in the evaluation of the detailed design technical proposal for Section 1 of the Third Yeonryuk Bridge construction, conducted on the 12th.

Among three participating consortia, Hanwha Construction Consortium received high scores by proposing the construction of a multi-level interchange to accommodate increased traffic, the installation of a cable-stayed bridge and three pocket observatories harmonizing with the main tower of Section 2, as well as noise-reducing soundproof tunnels and a waterfront park on the Yeongjong side coastline.

Additionally, to complete the Third Yeonryuk Bridge by the end of 2025, the construction period was shortened from the original 54 months to 47 months.

This bidding was the first local government civil engineering project to adopt the 'detailed design technical proposal' method, where the technical proposal evaluation accounts for 70% of the total score (price score 30%), increasing the likelihood that Hanwha Construction Consortium will be selected as the final successful bidder for Section 1 construction.

Earlier, on the 29th of last month, POSCO Consortium ranked first in the evaluation of the technical proposal for Section 2 of the Third Yeonryuk Bridge.

POSCO Construction Consortium proposed an original cable-stayed bridge design with a unique shape instead of the original 'reverse Y-shaped' cable-stayed bridge for the main span of the Third Yeonryuk Bridge, boasting the second-longest cable-stayed main span in Korea at 560m (the longest being Incheon Bridge at 800m).

They also plan to install a main tower observatory at a height of 180m, the highest bridge observatory in the world. Currently, the highest bridge observatory worldwide is the 128m-high Penobscot Narrows Bridge Observatory in the United States.

Perspective view of Incheon Third Bridge [Provided by Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority]

The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority plans to select and contract the final successful bidders for Sections 1 and 2 after conducting price evaluations through the Public Procurement Service. Following a three-month supplementary design process, construction is scheduled to begin in November this year. Among the three sections, Section 3, which includes priority construction such as the quay and marine dredging, began construction at the end of last year.

The Third Yeonryuk Bridge, connecting Yeongjongdo and Cheongna International City, will be 4.67 km long with six lanes (three lanes each way), targeting completion in December 2025. It will be the only one among the three bridges connecting Yeongjongdo to feature pedestrian and bicycle paths and will be developed as an experiential tourism cultural space where visitors can view the sunset over the West Sea from the bridge’s main tower observatory.

The Third Yeonryuk Bridge will be constructed as a smart bridge representing Korea, incorporating a multi-lane Hi-Pass system for safe and swift tollgate passage, as well as an intelligent traffic management system providing video analysis, traffic information, and road weather information.

The total project cost is 650 billion KRW. Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH) will bear 521.2 billion KRW (80.2%), Incheon Urban Corporation 98.2 billion KRW (15.1%), Incheon International Airport Corporation 14.9 billion KRW (2.3%), Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority 13.1 billion KRW (2%), and Hansang Dream Island 2.5 billion KRW (0.4%).

Incheon City expects that the construction of the Third Yeonryuk Bridge will improve residential conditions in Yeongjong International City, ensure punctuality for users of Incheon International Airport, and contribute to the development and investment attraction in the western metropolitan area.