Changwon City to Open Wonidaero S-BRT in March Next Year... Transition to Public Transport-Centered Traffic System

Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam plans to complete the installation of the premium Bus Rapid Transit system, S-BRT, on Wonidaero by March next year.

On the 27th, Changwon City held a press briefing at City Hall to update on the construction progress, explain measures to minimize citizen inconvenience during construction, and outline future plans.

Perspective view of S-BRT on Woni-daero, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam. [Provided by Changwon Special City Hall]

The city is implementing the S-BRT project to improve the efficiency of city buses, the only public transportation option, and to shift to a public transportation-centered traffic system.

The Super Bus Rapid Transit (S-BRT) is a premium bus rapid transit system that installs dedicated bus lanes in the center of the road to ensure punctuality, speed, comfort, and safety of buses.

Since being proposed as a campaign pledge during the 7th local government term in 2019, the project was selected as a pilot project by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in 2020, had its development plan established in 2021, and received implementation plan approval from Gyeongnam Province at the end of 2022, and is currently underway.

S-BRT Project Guide Map in Changwon-si, Gyeongnam,
[Provided by Changwon Special City Hall]

The project is divided into two phases: a 9.3 km section of Wonidaero from Dogye Square in Uichang-gu to Gaeumjeong Intersection, and an 8.7 km section of 3.15-daero from Yukho Square in Masanhappo-gu to Dogye Square.

The Wonidaero section began construction in April and was scheduled for temporary opening this month, but frequent rain and a prolonged rainy season from April to September delayed the work, with the current progress rate at 53% as of December.

The city plans to open the route in March next year without a temporary opening, after completing public relations on traffic system and signal operation changes and training city bus drivers, compensating for the delayed construction.

To address traffic congestion caused by lane reductions due to construction in the middle of the lanes, the city will optimize signal operations according to construction conditions and improve traffic flow by separating straight and left/right turn lanes.

Road surface deterioration and safety issues caused by poor pavement, potholes, and holes will be addressed through frequent repairs and soil compaction, with a full road resurfacing planned for mid-February next year.

Safety facilities such as PE drums installed to control the construction zone will be removed once road curbs are installed, ensuring they do not encroach on lanes.

LED signs and lights indicating lane reductions will be densely installed around the construction area to prevent accidents day and night.

If necessary, the city will actively conduct holiday and nighttime construction to shorten the construction period and minimize citizen inconvenience.

Je Jong-nam, Director of Transportation and Construction Bureau of Changwon City, is explaining the progress of the Woni-daero S-BRT construction.
[Photo by Lee Se-ryeong]

Along with the S-BRT opening, the city will provide facilities to enhance convenience for public transportation users.

Multifunctional bus stops that protect from snow and rain and provide heating and cooling will be installed in the center of the road sections, with bus and stop heights matched to enable level boarding and alighting for strollers, wheelchairs, and improve mobility for the elderly and other vulnerable groups.

A contactless fare payment system using tagless technology will be gradually introduced, allowing passengers to pay bus fares without tapping transportation cards on terminals.

Green belts will be installed to completely separate BRT lanes from general vehicle lanes, eliminating reckless merging by buses and conflicts between buses and passenger cars.

The city will secure appropriate left-turn lanes and reorganize signal systems centered on the entire 9.3 km Wonidaero S-BRT section.

The city expects that once the S-BRT is established, it will significantly improve public transportation convenience, increase traffic safety, and correct unreasonable traffic systems.

It is also projected that once the Wonidaero BRT opens, bus travel time on this section will be reduced by about 14 minutes and bus usage will increase by 11.3%.

Je Jong-nam, Director of the Transportation and Construction Bureau, expressed gratitude to all citizens who patiently endure the inconveniences caused by the construction, stating, “We consider every citizen who reports inconveniences as a safety manager and will reflect their opinions to improve the situation.”

He added, “A developed city is not one where only the poor own cars, but one where even the wealthy use public transportation. We will expand citizens’ transportation welfare and enhance the city’s sustainability by transitioning to a public transportation-centered traffic system.”