Improvement of Pedestrian Environment in Gwangun-ro 1-gil Area, Wolgye-dong, Nowon-gu

Project section 317m, sidewalk expanded to 1.5~2m, roadway narrowed to 6m... Undergrounding utility and communication poles, preventing electrical leakage and safety accidents

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it will transform the area from Jangwolgyo Bridge in front of Kwangwoon University in Wolgye-dong to Byeorumalgyo Bridge along Kwangwoon-ro 1-gil into a pedestrian-centered street.

With a total project cost of 2.32 billion KRW (660 million KRW from the central government, 1.33 billion KRW from the city, and 330 million KRW from the district), a major renovation of 317 meters of Kwangwoon-ro 1-gil will be completed by the end of this year.

The project will remove pedestrian obstacles such as utility poles, widen sidewalks, and reduce the roadway to create a more pedestrian-friendly street.

First, an underground utility project will bury eight utility poles, four communication poles, and various wires that currently clutter the sidewalks to secure a safe walking path. The narrow 1-meter-wide sidewalks had poles standing in the middle, causing inconvenience for pedestrians. Through this undergrounding project, the district plans to improve urban aesthetics and prevent safety accidents such as electrical leakage.

Next is the road diet and sidewalk expansion. The existing two-way road, 6 to 13 meters wide with two lanes, will be uniformly narrowed to 6 meters. According to the 'Road Structure Regulations' design speed, reducing the road width to 6 meters will lower vehicle speeds to under 60 km/h, preventing traffic accidents caused by speeding. The road surface will be covered with anti-slip stamped pavement materials featuring various colors and patterns.

For a comfortable walking environment, the existing sidewalks will also be expanded. The current narrow 1-meter sidewalks, where adults’ shoulders would touch when passing, will be widened to 1.5 to 2 meters or more. Previously, the narrow sidewalks posed a risk of pedestrians accidentally stepping off into the roadway. The sidewalks will be paved with concrete blocks and tactile blocks will be installed to ensure safe walking for visually impaired individuals.

The opposite side along the Uicheon Stream walking path will also be freshly developed. On the decked path, convenience facilities such as a pergola, photo benches, and a trellis with climbing vines will be installed. Around the road, 1,520 plants including boxwoods, mountain azaleas, and spiraea, along with 11 king maple trees, will be planted.

The district completed the detailed design in 2018 and signed an undergrounding project agreement with Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) in February this year for the construction.

This area, along with Kwangwoon University, is a school-dense zone with elementary, middle, and high schools, where narrow passageways made it vulnerable to safety accidents. Through this project, the district expects to create a comfortable pedestrian street, prevent illegal parking and speeding, enhance residents’ safety, and secure passage rights.

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, “We will reduce the roadway and widen the sidewalks to create a comfortable and safe passage for residents,” adding, “We will do our best to create a safe street and a clean urban environment for the residents.”

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