Ansan City Dispatches "International Exchange Delegation" to France to Benchmark Railway Undergrounding

Visit to the "Rive Gauche Project" for Railway Overhead Complex Development
Exploring Directions for Developing the Space Above the Underground Section from Cho Station to Jungang Station

Ansan City in Gyeonggi Province announced on April 24 that it has dispatched an "International Exchange Delegation" to France to benchmark advanced cases for the "Ansan Line Underground Integration Development" project promoted by the city.

The Ansan City International Exchange Delegation, visiting the 'Rive Gauche Project' site in Paris, France, to benchmark the complex development of railway overhead spaces, is taking a commemorative photo. Provided by Ansan City

The International Exchange Delegation, which departed on April 19, will visit Paris and Grenoble?recognized as leading examples of successful complex development of railway overhead spaces?until April 26 to explore ways to utilize such spaces that could be applied to the city.

On April 22, the delegation focused on visiting the site of the "Rive Gauche Project" in Paris's 13th arrondissement. This project is regarded as a leading European urban regeneration model, having transformed an underdeveloped railway site in the 13th arrondissement into a complex development. By covering the above-ground area of the national railway, an artificial ground was created, upon which a complex facility was built, incorporating residential, business, educational, and cultural spaces to create a new urban area. The city explained that the Rive Gauche Project, which prioritized public interest over development profits, aligns with Ansan City's envisioned direction for space utilization after the undergrounding of the Ansan Line.

Previously, the section of the Ansan Line between Cho Station and Jungang Station was selected by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport as a priority project for railway undergrounding. The city is currently pursuing a complex development centered on the station area, combining urban vitality and economic functions in the space above the ground railway facilities in the area. To this end, the city plans to create a complex district above the railway, including a park, cultural facilities, a business district, a youth startup space, and public offices, and to expand pedestrian-oriented public plazas and rest areas.

Do Wonjoong, Director of Planning and Economy for Ansan City, stated, "With this field study as an opportunity, we will accelerate our efforts to realize a people-centered urban innovation model in Ansan, going beyond simple infrastructure improvement."