Osan Gyeongbu Line Railroad Crossing Road, Construction Begins After 8-Year-Old Cost-Sharing Conflict Ends

Expecting 20-Minute Reduction from Segyo 2 District to Osan IC
Mayor Ikwon Jae: "Doing Our Best to Solve Traffic Issues"

Construction of the Gyeongbu Line Railroad Overpass Road in the Osan area, which had been delayed for eight years due to a cost-sharing dispute between Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) and Osan City, began on the 26th.

On the afternoon of the 26th, LH and Osan City held a 'Gyeongbu Line Railroad Overpass Road Groundbreaking Ceremony' at the southern area of the former Gyesung Paper Mill site. About 300 people attended the ceremony, including Osan Mayor Lee Kwon-jae, Osan City Council Chairman Lee Sang-bok, and LH President Lee Han-jun.

At the groundbreaking ceremony for the Gyeongbu Line railroad crossing on the 26th, Lee Gwon-jae (fourth from the left), Mayor of Osan, Lee Han-jun (fifth from the left), President of Korea Land and Housing Corporation, and other attendees are breaking ground. Provided by Osan City

This project involves constructing a total length of 1.54 km to connect Wondong (National Route 1) and Nueup-dong, which were separated by the Gyeongbu Line railroad. The project budget is 133.9 billion KRW.

Once the road is completed, approximately 30,000 vehicles (based on 2030 projections) that currently use Nambu-daero and Seongho-daero will be diverted to this road, reducing travel time from Segyo 2 District to the entrance of Osan IC on the Gyeongbu Expressway from 40 minutes to 20 minutes.

The project faced many twists and turns before construction began. It started in 2010 as part of the metropolitan traffic improvement measures following the development of Segyo 2 District, approved by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. However, conflicts over cost-sharing adjustments between LH and the city caused an eight-year stalemate, putting the project at risk of cancellation. After the central investment review in 2011, the project was delayed for over four years and was even classified for re-evaluation.

The project gained momentum again when Mayor Lee made it a key campaign pledge during the 8th local elections. Shortly after taking office, Mayor Lee visited then Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong to request government support to resolve the issue.

Ultimately, in December 2022, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport’s Metropolitan Area Wide-area Transportation Committee approved amendments to the Segyo 2 District metropolitan traffic improvement plan to expedite the project. Subsequently, the project passed the feasibility re-evaluation by the Local Administration Research Institute (LIMAC) and the main investment review by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

Notably, during the project's revival, the city secured an additional 30 billion KRW from LH, increasing LH’s contribution to 53.8 billion KRW. The private developer, Hyundai Terra Tower, also invested about 10.6 billion KRW, reducing the city's financial burden for the road construction.

Mayor Lee said, "I am deeply moved to fulfill the pledge I made to citizens as my first official act after taking office," adding, "The Gyeongbu Line Railroad Overpass Road will serve as a backbone of Osan’s road network, connecting the old downtown and Segyo district, which were divided by the railroad, from east to west."

Earlier, the city fully opened the western bypass road section of Osan, connecting north and south, and the Osan City Hall underpass (part of the Dongbu-daero continuous road project) last year.

The city plans to actively promote the Osan IC elevated interchange and the underground connection of Wondong and Cheonil intersections linking the Gyeongbu Line Railroad Overpass Road and Osan IC. Currently, LH is conducting advisory services for the Osan IC elevated interchange project.

Additionally, the city intends to actively pursue projects such as ▲construction of the road connecting Semiconductor Expressway to Segyo 3 District ▲new access road at Jinwi IC ▲new High-pass IC at Unam Field ▲new IC at Hwaseong Geumgok District ▲new High-pass IC at Osan Rest Area ▲and undergrounding from KEPCO to Wondong Intersection.