Separation of Bus Route Directions in Gangnam, Seoul
Some Bus Routes Adjusted to Curbside Lanes
Seoul City has decided to adjust about 20 metropolitan bus routes to prevent traffic congestion in the Gangnam and Myeongdong directions. Some routes during rush hours will be reversed, and stops will be changed from central bus stops to curbside stops.
The city announced on the 17th that, in consultation with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Metropolitan Transport Authority, Gyeonggi Province, and Incheon Metropolitan City, it will disperse and adjust 22 routes heading toward Gangnam and Myeongdong starting from the 29th to improve commuting speed.
This measure is part of the adjustment plan for 33 metropolitan bus routes jointly announced by the government and two metropolitan local governments in early last month. Among them, the city explained that 11 routes stopping at Namdaemun Tax Office (Central) were switched to the newly established 'Myeongdong Cathedral' curbside stop, resulting in reduced bus travel time during peak congestion hours.
First, the city will adjust 20 routes heading from the metropolitan area to Seoul Gangnam. Five routes operating from Yongin to Gangnam will be reversed during the evening rush hour considering road congestion from Sinnonhyeon to Yangjae. These are routes 1560, 5001, 5001-1, 5002B, and 5003. Therefore, commuters living in Yongin using these routes will have route numbers distinguished as A (morning) and B (afternoon), and during the evening commute, they should board from the opposite side of the usual stop.
To alleviate congestion in the central bus-only lane on Gangnam-daero, 15 routes will be adjusted to curbside lanes on some sections. Nine routes departing from Incheon, Goyang, Gimpo, Paju, and Pocheon will stop at all curbside stops starting from 'Line 2 Gangnam Station (Central)' stop on the downstream section of Gangnam-daero. These include ▲Incheon 9500, 9501, 9802 ▲Goyang M7412, 9700 ▲Gimpo M6427, 6427 ▲Paju G7426 ▲Pocheon 3100.
Six routes departing from Hwaseong (Dongtan) will stop at curbside stops near Gangnam Station instead of the central lane's 'Shinbundang Line Gangnam Station (Central)' stop, then merge into the central lane from 'Baengbaeng Intersection (Central)'. These are ▲M4403, 4403 stopping at 'Gangnam Station T World' stop ▲1551, 1551B, 8501, 8502 stopping at 'Gangnam Station Woori Bank' stop.
Routes 9003 and 9300 heading from Seongnam to Seoul Myeongdong will have their turnaround routes adjusted to Sowol-ro to bypass the heavily congested Myeongdong area and Namsan No. 1 Tunnel. Accordingly, after turning around at Seoul Station and heading back to Seongnam, the bus will stop at the 'Lotte Department Store' stop across the street instead of the 'Myeongdong Entrance' stop.
Yoon Jong-jang, Director of Urban Transportation at Seoul City, said, "Since we confirmed the effect of reducing congestion on roads and stops by dispersing routes at Namdaemun Tax Office stop last May, we expect that this adjustment of 22 routes including Gangnam will improve convenience not only for bus users but also for pedestrians and drivers."
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