Gyeonggi-do's 'Satongpaldal Transportation Network' Green Light

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province has recently turned on the green light for establishing a "well-connected transportation network" by consecutively promoting railway (subway), road, and tram (urban railway) projects.

In particular, the northern part of Gyeonggi, where transportation conditions are relatively poor compared to the southern part, is expected to see a breakthrough in regional economic development as major roads and railways are scheduled to open this year.

According to Gyeonggi Province on the 21st, the province is actively promoting the urban railway (tram) project connecting Hwaseong Dongtan 2nd New Town and Osan. To this end, the province recently announced a bid for the "Feasibility Study and Basic Plan Establishment for Dongtan Urban Railway" through the Public Procurement Service.

The Dongtan Urban Railway (tram) project, scheduled to open in 2027, will invest a total project cost of 996.7 billion KRW to construct 34 stations along two sections totaling 32.35 km: Banwol in Hwaseong to Osan (14.82 km) and Byeongjeom Station to Dongtan 2nd New Town (17.53 km).

The tram is a streetcar that runs on tracks on the road, combining the punctuality of the "subway" with the accessibility of the "bus."

The urban railway construction projects promoted by the province until 2027 include a total of 9 lines (total length 91.45 km), including the Dongtan tram lines 1 and 2, as well as ▲ Suwon Line 1 ▲ Seongnam Line 1 ▲ Seongnam Lines 2 and 8 extension to Pangyo ▲ Yongin Line extension to Gwanggyo ▲ Oido connection line ▲ Songnae-Bucheon line ▲ Wirye-Hanam line.

The province is also promoting the 9.7 km extension of the Shinbundang Line from Gwanggyo in Suwon to Hwaseo Station and Homaesil. Earlier, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 15th that the preliminary feasibility study for the Shinbundang Line Gwanggyo-Homaesil project had passed.

The Gwanggyo-Homaesil line will connect with the Indeogwon-Dongtan Line (World Cup Stadium Station) and the Gyeongbu Line (Hwaseo Station). The province expects that upon completion of the railway, it will significantly alleviate traffic congestion caused by large-scale housing developments in the southern metropolitan area and greatly contribute to the development of the traffic-disadvantaged western Suwon area.

Hong Ji-seon, Director of the Railway, Port, and Logistics Bureau of the province, emphasized, "Since the preliminary feasibility study for the Shinbundang Line Gwanggyo-Homaesil project has passed, Gyeonggi Province will do its best to cooperate with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to ensure the project proceeds without any setbacks."

Meanwhile, in the northern Gyeonggi region this year, major roads and railways such as ▲ Munsan Station to Imjingang Station subway (6 km) ▲ Seoul to Munsan private highway (35.2 km) ▲ National Road No. 37 Paju to Gapyeong (73 km) will open consecutively within the year.

First, the Munsan Station to Imjingang Station section was completed on December 31 last year. The province plans to open it at the end of March after a three-month trial operation.

An official from the province said, "The subway project connecting Munsan Station and Imjingang Station electrified a single-track section without power lines, where only one DMZ-train ran daily, by investing 38.8 billion KRW. We expect it to greatly help revitalize the local tourism economy."

In June, a 3.5 km section from Baegui-ri to Jangtan-ri in Cheongsan-myeon, Yeoncheon-gun, which had not yet opened on the 73 km National Road No. 37 Paju-Gapyeong section connecting east to west in northern Gyeonggi, will open.

Dongtan Urban Railway (Tram) Project Route Map

Also, the Seoul-Munsan private road, which will be a key road in the northwestern Gyeonggi area including Goyang and Paju, is scheduled to open in November. This road, connecting Naepori in Munsan-eup, Paju City to Gangmae-dong, Deogyang-gu, Goyang City over 35.2 km, is currently about 80% complete.

In particular, the Seoul-Munsan private road will connect 260 km from Goyang-Seoul-Gwangmyeong-Suwon-Pyeongtaek downwards to Iksan in Jeonbuk, and upwards it will extend through Kaesong to Pyongyang.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.