Underground Connection from Sinwol Interchange to Mokdong Sports Complex to Open in 2024
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that although the lanes on Gukhoe-daero (from Sinwol IC to Hongik Hospital Intersection) were reduced from 8 lanes to 6 lanes, causing expected traffic congestion, the congestion has decreased thanks to citizens cooperating by diverting traffic to surrounding roads.
According to Seoul City on the 18th, after the closure of the Hwagok Underpass, the total traffic volume towards Bucheon during the busiest times of 7-8 AM and 6-7 PM decreased by 10% in the morning and 16% in the evening, while the traffic volume towards Yeouido decreased by 3% in the morning and 25% in the evening.
In particular, the "Sinwol-Yeoui Underpass" located beneath Gukhoe-daero saw an increase in average daily traffic volume on weekdays from 50,267 vehicles (from the 3rd to the 14th of last month) to 54,909 vehicles (from the 17th to the 28th of last month), an increase of 9.2% (4,642 vehicles) after the lane reduction on Gukhoe-daero. This indicates that citizens are using the Sinwol-Yeoui Underpass as a detour route around Gukhoe-daero.
Seoul City minimized traffic congestion by implementing traffic measures such as adding a U-turn in front of West Seoul Park on the southern ring road at Sinwol IC (towards Gimpo Airport) and controlling left-turning vehicles from under the Hwagok Overpass towards Gajisan Station. The "Gukhoe-daero Underpass," a 4.1 km long, four-lane (two lanes each way) underground road connecting Sinwol Interchange to Mokdong Sports Complex, will open by 2024, linking the Sinwol-Yeoui Underpass and the surface road.
The approximately 1 km section from Hongik Hospital Intersection to the Youth Training Center Intersection is currently being designed for the creation of a surface park and installation of an underpass, with construction scheduled to begin in the first half of next year. Kim Seong-bo, head of Seoul City's Urban Infrastructure Headquarters, stated, "We will continuously monitor traffic conditions to minimize inconvenience to citizens," adding, "Since congestion is expected during the construction period, we ask for citizens' understanding and continued cooperation by driving safely and slowly through the construction zone and using detour routes."
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