Feasibility Study on 'Jungbong Minja Tunnel' from Gyeongseo-dong to Wanggil-dong, Incheon... Driving Comprehensive Development in the Northern Area

Incheon City is promoting the construction of Jungbong Tunnel, connecting Gyeongseo-dong and Wanggil-dong in Seo-gu, as a leading project of the comprehensive development plan for the northern area.

On the 18th, the city announced that it had requested a feasibility study for the private investment project of Jungbong Tunnel, proposed by DL Construction (formerly Daelim Construction) in April, from the Public Investment Management Center of the Korea Development Institute (KDI).

Jungbong Tunnel is a 4.567 km long, four-lane (two lanes each way) automobile-only road connecting Gyeongseo Samgeori in Gyeongseo-dong, Seo-gu, and Geomdan 2 Intersection in Wanggil-dong. It is planned to be constructed as a deep tunnel passing under the Gyeongin Ara Waterway.

The project will be promoted as a private investment project with a total budget of 355.1 billion KRW. After five years of construction, the private operator will manage the tunnel for 40 years after its opening.

The city plans to finalize the private investment project through the Private Investment Project Deliberation Committee after the Jungbong Private Tunnel passes the feasibility study around the first half of next year. Subsequently, procedures such as third-party proposal announcements and execution of implementation agreements will be followed, with construction scheduled to begin in 2026.

Jungbong Tunnel Location Map [Provided by Incheon City]

Once the tunnel opens, the north-south two axes of Incheon’s arterial road network connecting Songdo and Geomdan will be completed, reducing vehicle travel time from Michuhol-gu’s old downtown to Geomdan in Seo-gu by about 13 minutes, which is expected to accelerate the comprehensive development plan for northern Incheon. Additionally, traffic improvement effects are anticipated on existing major north-south roads, Bongsu-daero and Seogot-ro (Bongsu-daero from grade F to D, Seogot-ro from grade E to D).

Jungbong Tunnel was designated as an urban planning facility (road) in 1986, but due to excessive project costs caused by surrounding conditions such as the Gyeongin Ara Waterway, Incheon International Country Club, and the Seoul Metropolitan Landfill Site, the road construction was abandoned. Consequently, the urban planning facility designation was automatically canceled on July 1, 2020, under the 'Long-term Unexecuted Urban Planning Facility Sunset Clause.'

An official from Incheon City stated, "Jungbong Tunnel is a leading project for the early realization of the comprehensive development plan for northern Incheon," adding, "It will contribute not only to the development of the northern area but also to improving citizens’ transportation convenience by expanding the previously insufficient north-south arterial road network in Incheon."