The expansion and reconstruction of 'Gogikyo,' connecting Yongin and Seongnam in Gyeonggi Province, is being promoted.
Gyeonggi Province announced on the 22nd that Yongin City and Seongnam City, which had been at odds over the expansion and reconstruction of Gogikyo, have reached an agreement on the final report of the traffic impact analysis improvement plan for the surrounding roads.
Gogikyo is a bridge 25 meters long and 8 meters wide connecting Gogidong in Suji-gu, Yongin City, and Daejangdong in Bundang-gu, Seongnam City, originally constructed by Yongin City in 1986.
The northern end of the bridge is owned by Seongnam City, and the southern end by Yongin City, so any reconstruction or expansion of Gogikyo requires agreement between the two local governments. Yongin City has been pushing for the expansion of Gogikyo due to frequent traffic congestion near the bridge and complaints caused by river flooding. On the other hand, Seongnam City demanded measures to disperse the incoming traffic volume, showing differences in opinion and causing a long-standing conflict.
After taking office, Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon visited the Gogikyo site in July and August 2022 and made efforts to resolve the conflict. In September of the same year, Yongin City and Seongnam City signed a win-win business agreement under the mediation of Gyeonggi Province and agreed to first proceed with a traffic impact analysis service for the roads around Gogikyo.
The traffic impact analysis improvement plan for the roads around Gogikyo, agreed upon by Yongin City and Seongnam City, contains specific roles and plans by city on how to implement traffic improvement measures around Gogikyo.
The improvement plan divides the road improvements around Gogikyo into Short-term Section 1, Short-term Section 2, and Mid-to-long-term plans.
Yongin City decided to simultaneously promote the construction of Short-term Section 1, which includes Gogikyo and Jungno 1-140 Line, and Short-term Section 2, the new bypass road of Gogikyo, Jungno 3-177 Line. Accordingly, Gogikyo will undergo expansion and reconstruction procedures for the first time in about 40 years since its completion.
Seongnam City will improve the northern intersection in Short-term Section 1.
Gyeonggi Province expects that with this traffic improvement plan agreement, the project can enter full-scale implementation from next year, including securing related budgets.
Governor Kim Dong-yeon posted on his social media on the 21st, "I report that with the final agreement between Seongnam and Yongin City, Gogikyo will be expanded and reconstructed as a four-lane bridge," adding, "I also express my gratitude to the officials of Yongin and Seongnam City who worked hard for the agreement. We will do our best until the project is completed in 2026."
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