Gimpo City Confirms New "Gomak IC" on Geyang-Ganghwa Expressway... Construction Set to Begin in First Half of Year

Gimpo City Completes Detailed Design for Geyang-Ganghwa Expressway
Targeting 2032 Opening... Northwestern Gimpo's Transportation Landscape Set for Change
Mayor Kim Byungsoo: "Geyang-Ganghwa Expressway, Top Priority Is Impact on Urban Competitiveness"

Gimpo City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Kim Byungsoo), announced on January 13 that the Geyang-Ganghwa Expressway construction project, which is being promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korea Expressway Corporation, has completed its detailed design phase and is set to move forward in earnest.

Entire Route Map of Geyang-Ganghwa Expressway. Provided by Gimpo City.

The city stated that it will continue to actively collaborate with relevant agencies with the goal of maximizing transportation benefits for Gimpo residents. At the same time, it aims to minimize urban disconnection and disruption to the living environment caused by the expressway construction, while making every effort to ensure urban connectivity.

The Geyang-Ganghwa Expressway is a national arterial road project stretching a total of 29.88 kilometers from Sangya-dong in Gyeyang-gu, Incheon, passing through Gimpo City, and extending to Sinjeong-ri, Seonwon-myeon, Ganghwa County. The expressway will have four to six lanes in both directions, with a total project cost of approximately 2.9152 trillion won, and is scheduled for completion in 2032.

Since the basic and detailed design stages, Gimpo City has submitted various proposals to minimize the impact of the expressway on local residents' lives and the urban structure, taking into account the unique conditions of the areas the route will traverse.

In particular, regarding sections 1 to 6, Gimpo City requested a review of underground construction for the expressway in the area from the Incheon Daegok District (Section 4) through Solte Sports Park and the Gimpo Hangang 2 Compact City section, to address concerns about urban disconnection and environmental damage. The city also proposed measures such as route changes to prevent the isolation of residential districts, and requested traffic management solutions such as the expansion of auxiliary roads and measures to prevent the creation of landlocked parcels, all aimed at minimizing inconvenience for residents.

Regarding section 7, Gimpo City pointed out that although the route passes through Wolgot-myeon, the original plan did not provide sufficient accessibility or utility for the existing Wolgot Interchange (IC). The city has consistently called for the installation of a new IC to improve logistics convenience for local residents and businesses. As a result, Gimpo City's request was reflected in the design, and a plan to install a new "Gomak IC" (tentative name) in the Gomak-ri area of Wolgot has been included. This is expected to significantly improve accessibility and regional transportation benefits for the northwestern part of Gimpo.

Gyeongyang-Ganghwa Expressway Resident Briefing Session. Provided by Gimpo City

Currently, for sections 1 to 6, the procedures for consultation with relevant agencies and collecting residents' opinions regarding the 2025 road zone designation have been completed. The project is scheduled to proceed with the following timeline: official announcement of road zone designation in April 2026, construction commencement in the second half of 2026, and completion in the second half of 2032. For section 7, based on the design that includes the new Gomak IC, consultations regarding road zone designation are planned for the first half of 2026, after which the construction will begin in earnest.

Kim Byungsoo, Mayor of Gimpo City, stated, "The Geyang-Ganghwa Expressway will serve as a vital arterial route for Gimpo City as part of the national transportation network expansion. We have always prioritized the impact on residents' living environment and the city's competitiveness. Moving forward, we will continue to work closely with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korea Expressway Corporation to minimize inconvenience for citizens and maximize tangible transportation benefits."