Gwangju City Expands Walking Trails by Connecting Urban Parks with Pedestrian Overpasses

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on the 8th that it will promote a project to expand walking paths by connecting parks isolated by roads in the downtown area with pedestrian overpasses.

The project targets four locations: ▲ Unamsan Park ~ Yeongsangang Daesang Park ▲ Ilgok Park ~ Jungoe Park ▲ Jungoe Park ▲ Jungang Park.

The total length of the four newly installed pedestrian overpasses will be 273 meters, with an investment of 14 billion KRW, and the project will be carried out as a private park development project by 2024.

First, the overpass connecting Unamsan Park and Yeongsangang Daesang Park is planned to be constructed as a 98-meter cable-stayed bridge over Bitgoeul-daero near Kolon Haneulchae in Unamsan.

Until now, residents of Dongnim-dong around Unamsan had difficulty accessing Yeongsangang Daesang Park, a waterfront park, due to the eight-lane car-only road Bitgoeul-daero. However, with the construction of this overpass, they will be able to easily reach Yeongsangang Daesang Park and use the walking and bicycle paths.

The 53-meter pedestrian overpass connecting Ilgok Park and Jungoe Park will be built over Yangil-ro near the entrance of the Korea Electric Power Corporation Financial Materials Center in Bonchon Industrial Complex, Buk-gu. This will allow hikers from Ilgok District’s Han Saebong to reach Maegok Mountain in Jungoe Park without crossing crosswalks.

In Jungoe Park, a 67-meter pedestrian overpass will be constructed over the Honam Expressway, which crosses the park behind Moa Miraedo, scheduled for completion in 2022. This will make it easier for nearby residents of Unam 3-dong, who had difficulty accessing the National Gwangju Museum due to the Honam Expressway, to reach it via Jungoe Park’s walking paths. Residents of newly constructed apartments will also be able to conveniently access Dongnim Multipurpose Gymnasium and Unam Middle School within Jungoe Park using the park’s walking paths.

Once pedestrian overpasses are installed between Unamsan Park ~ Yeongsangang Daesang Park, Ilgok Park ~ Jungoe Park, and within Jungoe Park, a 13 km, 3-hour walking course will be completed from Ilgok Park through Jungoe Park, Unamsan Park, to Maruk-dong Waterfront Park.

Additionally, a 55-meter pedestrian overpass crossing Geumhwa-ro will be installed in Jungang Park, connecting Baegilsan and Pungam-san. Residents of Ssangchon and Hwajeong-dong in Seo-gu will be able to safely access Pungam Lake using Jungang Park’s walking paths. Moreover, a 7 km walking trail will be established from the Student Independence Movement Memorial Hall to Pungam Lake, Pungam Sports Park, and Jipbongsan (Juwol-dong, Nam-gu).

Furthermore, walking up to the summit course of Geumdangsan, which is 4.6 km, will enable a trekking course of 11.6 km and about 3 hours and 30 minutes from Jungang Park to Geumdangsan within the city.

Kim Jong-ho, head of the City Park and Greenery Division, said, “Once the private park development project is completed with the installation of pedestrian overpasses, connection of walking paths (totaling 73 km), installation of outdoor exercise facilities, and creation of a camping site in Jungang Park, a park will be created where citizens can enjoy leisure activities by feeling nature and breathing fresh air while exercising in the gray city.”

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