LH Discusses Transportation Measures for 3rd New Town with Traffic Experts

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Wanyong] Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) announced on the 20th that it held a workshop with transportation experts to expedite the implementation of the metropolitan transportation improvement measures before the move-in of the 3rd phase new towns.

The workshop was held on the 17th with the attendance of LH President Lee Han-jun, the Director of the Land and Urban Development Headquarters, and transportation experts. It was the first metropolitan transportation-related issue meeting since the establishment of the president’s direct ‘National Housing Innovation Office’ and its executing organization, the ‘Pre-Transportation Planning Office.’

Location map of the Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Plan. [Photo by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport]

First, a discussion was held on the Suseok Bridge (tentative name), a Han River crossing bridge confirmed as part of the metropolitan transportation improvement measures for the Namyangju Wangsuk District in December 2020. The Suseok Bridge is a new Han River bridge to be constructed between Gangdong Bridge and Misa Bridge, connecting Namyangju City and Hanam City.

The bridge will be a 1.2 km long, 4-lane bridge, and coordination of differing opinions between Hanam City and Namyangju City regarding the construction of the Suseok Bridge is necessary. Hanam City is requesting verification of the necessity of the new Suseok Bridge due to changes in transportation conditions such as the ‘Undergrounding Project of the Metropolitan Area 1st Ring Expressway from Toegyewon to Pangyo,’ while Namyangju City is demanding the early construction of the Suseok Bridge.

Accordingly, LH plans to rationally promote the project by analyzing the pros and cons of various alternatives for the construction of the Suseok Bridge.

Secondly, discussions were held on changes to the metropolitan transportation improvement measures for the Incheon Gyeyang District and Bucheon Daejang District. The main improvement measures for the Gyeyang and Daejang districts include the S-BRT connecting Gimpo Airport Station, Bakchon Station, and Bucheon Sports Complex Station, as well as the expansion of National Road No. 39 (Beolmal-ro).

Since the Daejang-Hongdae Line included in the ‘4th National Railroad Network Construction Plan’ announced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport overlaps with part of the S-BRT included in the metropolitan transportation improvement measures, various alternatives were discussed with experts at this workshop to find solutions.

LH is closely analyzing the causes of delays in the metropolitan transportation improvement measures for the 2nd phase new towns and is preparing recovery measures. For the Suwon Homaesil District and Hwaseong Dongtan 2 District, designated as special metropolitan transportation districts, LH has expanded metropolitan buses toward Seoul, installed rest areas at metropolitan bus stops, and introduced double-decker electric buses.

According to the ‘Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Promotion Plan for New Towns’ announced in October last year, for concentrated management districts where transportation inconvenience is urgent, such as Pyeongtaek Godeok and Incheon Geomdan, LH plans to expand metropolitan bus operations and introduce demand-responsive transport (DRT) services.

President Lee Han-jun said, “We will strengthen the participation of transportation experts to complete the implementation of metropolitan transportation improvement measures before the move-in of the 3rd phase new towns,” and added, “We will respond swiftly through close consultations with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Metropolitan Government Committee, local governments, and related experts regarding situations where changes to the metropolitan transportation improvement measures are inevitably required due to changing conditions.”