Uijeongbu Marks One Year Since Opening of "Camp Redcloud Passage Road"
Significant Relief for Traffic Congestion and Restoration of Public Access
Average Daily Traffic of 10,000 Vehicles Dispersed; Cost Efficiency Highly Praised
CRC Selected as Candidate Site for Gyeonggi Free Economic Zone, Beyond Its Historical Role
Securing a "Future Growth Engine"?A Model Case for Utilizing Returned Military Sites
Uijeongbu City in Gyeonggi Province is accelerating concrete actions to return the former Camp Redcloud (CRC), which had served as a U.S. military base for 70 years, to its citizens and utilize it as a future growth engine. At the heart of these efforts is the "CRC Passage Road," which opened in July 2023. This road is regarded not just as a transportation route, but as a symbolic starting point for restoring public access by returning a previously closed space to the community.
Uijeongbu City held an opening event for the "CRC Passage Road," which passes through the Camp Red Cloud (CRC) site where civilian access had been restricted for 70 years since July 2023. Provided by Uijeongbu City
According to Uijeongbu City (Mayor Kim Donggeun) on the 25th, the city recently held an expert forum on September 26 to discuss efficient development strategies for Camp Redcloud (CRC), as well as a research briefing on October 16 to examine the historical and cultural utilization potential of the remaining buildings.
Through such diverse public discussions, the city is taking concrete steps to enhance the public value and future potential of the returned site. In particular, the CRC Passage Road, which opened in 2023, is being recognized as a symbolic starting point for returning a closed space to citizens and improving urban accessibility.
In July 2023, the city opened the "CRC Passage Road," which cuts through the Camp Redcloud (CRC) site where civilian access had been restricted for 70 years. This passage road is drawing attention not merely as transportation infrastructure, but as a case of restoring public access by returning a space that once symbolized national security to everyday civic life.
Since the opening of the passage road, approximately 10,000 vehicles per day have used the new route, and the average travel time has been reduced by 63%, from 5 minutes and 23 seconds to 2 minutes and 1 second, greatly improving transportation convenience.
Before the road opened, traffic was concentrated on the one-way road on the east side of CRC, causing severe congestion during rush hours. However, after the opening, the volume of delays at surrounding intersections has decreased, and the average travel speed along the corridor has increased.
Previously, about 30,000 vehicles per day had to pass through five signalized intersections, such as Nokyang-ro and Biwoo-ro toward Yangju, with 2,227 vehicles concentrated during the morning peak hour. After the opening of the CRC Passage Road, which has no signalized intersections, traffic during that time has been dispersed to 824 vehicles, clearly improving traffic flow.
Initially, the city was required to purchase Ministry of National Defense-owned land to open the passage road. However, through active negotiations with relevant ministries, the city was able to operate the road by paying a usage fee instead of purchasing the land. The resulting reduction in traffic inconvenience and travel time is considered highly efficient compared to the cost.
This change is not simply a choice for citizen mobility, but also reflects the city's policy commitment to the open utilization of the returned site.
The CRC site covers approximately 836,000 square meters and, since 1953, had served as a core national security facility for the U.S. I Corps for 70 years. Even after its return in 2022, the main buildings and environment have been preserved close to their original state, making it a space of rare historical value in Korea.
The city is redefining CRC not merely as a returned U.S. military base, but as a "symbolic asset" connecting Uijeongbu's past and future. The opening of the passage road was the first step in this direction. Citizens now perceive CRC not as a space to be viewed from outside the fence, but as a part of their daily lives that they can experience firsthand.
The opening of the passage road was a symbolic measure to open CRC to the public, which has led to even greater changes. The city has continued to develop concrete plans centered around the CRC site, achieving the result of being selected as a candidate site for the Gyeonggi Free Economic Zone in April of this year.
Free economic zones are business-friendly special districts that are exempt from various regulations and offer tax reductions, streamlined administrative procedures, and incentives for foreign investment, making them favorable for attracting global companies and developing industrial infrastructure. Based on these conditions, CRC is planned to become a global hub where future industries such as the design industry, media content, and AI business converge.
Under the philosophy that "the citizens are the owners of the city," Uijeongbu City is making "openness" a core policy principle, not only for city hall, community centers, and public facilities, but also for the returned site. The CRC Passage Road is a representative example of this philosophy being realized in physical space.
Going forward, the city plans to transform CRC and other returned sites from spaces of separation into places of connection. The city will steadily proceed with the necessary procedures to utilize CRC as a key asset for restoring public value and promoting sustainable urban growth.
An official from Uijeongbu City stated, "The opening of the CRC Passage Road was not just about improving transportation convenience for citizens, but was the first step in transforming the returned site into a public space shared with the community," adding, "We will continue to focus our administrative efforts so that CRC can become a space that embodies both the region's historical value and its future vision."
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