Demolition of Yeongdong Bridge North Overpass Delayed by Another Four Years

Feasibility Study on Demolition Completed
Dongbu Expressway Underground Project Becomes a Key Variable
Demolition Scheduled After Yeongdong-daero Connection Project
Seoul Accelerates Demolition of City Overpasses

The demolition of the Yeongdong Bridge North Overpass, which connects Yeongdong Bridge and Seongsu Intersection, has been postponed once again. Although the demolition plan has been in discussion for over a decade, it was determined that the overpass still has greater economic utility for now. The fact that it falls within the area affected by the Dongbu Expressway Underground Project, which is being promoted by Seoul City, also became a variable in the decision.

According to the maintenance industry on August 22, Seoul City recently completed the "Feasibility Study on the Demolition of the Yeongdong Bridge North Overpass," which began last year, and has tentatively finalized a plan to begin demolition after 2029.

A view of the Yeongdong Bridge North Overpass connecting Yeongdong Bridge and Seongsu Intersection. Seoul City

The Yeongdong Bridge North Overpass, completed in August 1996, is a two-lane, 480-meter-long overpass that runs along Dong 2-ro, crosses Ttukseom-gil, and connects to the north end of Yeongdong Bridge. Until the early 2000s, it helped disperse traffic, but as city traffic increased and the Seongsu-dong area was developed into a large residential and commercial district, the resulting surge in population flow turned the overpass into a cause of traffic congestion.

The overpass has also affected the surrounding commercial area. Both residents and local merchants have continuously demanded its demolition to improve the landscape and revitalize the local economy.

Discussions about demolition have been repeated. In 2014, Seoul City conducted a study to assess the traffic impact in advance in order to decide whether to demolish the Yeongdong Bridge North Overpass. At that time, the condition was set that "lanes to connect with surrounding apartment complex reconstruction must be secured in advance after demolition," but as residential redevelopment projects in the area were delayed, the demolition was also postponed.

Subsequently, as overpasses across the city were demolished one after another, the Yeongdong Bridge North Overpass was again listed as a demolition candidate. In 2016, Seoul City announced a roadmap to demolish eight overpasses in the city, and the Yeongdong Bridge North Overpass was classified as a priority site, with expectations that the project would reduce congestion and improve the landscape after construction.

However, the demolition plan was postponed again following the city’s own feasibility study, which began in March last year. A comprehensive analysis of the impact on surrounding roads was conducted, and considering changes to intersection traffic management systems, it was concluded that maintenance and repairs were more reasonable from both economic and policy perspectives.

Above all, the Dongbu Expressway Underground Project became a major variable. The project aims to separate long- and short-distance traffic on the existing Dongbu Expressway by constructing a deep, four-lane underground road (tunnel) between Wolleunggyo and Daechi-dong (Daechi Woosung Apartment Intersection) and converting the existing expressway section underground. The plan also includes the construction of Samsung IC on Yeongdong-daero and Cheongdam IC on Dosan-daero. If the demolition of the north overpass were to proceed simultaneously, it was analyzed that traffic congestion would be further aggravated.

The demolition is scheduled for late 2029, after the completion of the Yeongdong-daero connection section of the Dongbu Expressway Underground Project. A Seoul City official explained, "Considering the urban landscape, the impact on surrounding businesses, and traffic flow, demolition work will likely be discussed immediately after the underground project is completed."

Meanwhile, Seoul City is accelerating the demolition of overpasses in the city. Since the opening of the first overpass in Ahyeon in 1968, there were 101 overpasses in Seoul, but starting with the demolition of Tteokjin Overpass in 2002, the city has recently begun demolishing the Seosomun Overpass, which connects Sunhwa-dong and Jungnim-dong in Jung-gu.