'City of Water' Incheon Songdo Waterfront Phase 1-1 to be Completed in May

Second half construction orders for stages 1-2... Stage 2 feasibility study to be completed in July

Location map of Songdo Waterfront [Provided by Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The first phase of the waterfront project, which connects the lakes and waterways of Songdo International City in the Incheon Free Economic Zone in a 'ㅁ' shape, will be completed in the first half of this year.

The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority announced on the 8th that the Waterfront Phase 1-1 (0.93 km) construction is planned to be completed in May.

The Phase 1-1 construction, which connects the artificial lake in Songdo District 6 and the sea via waterways, has completed civil engineering works and is currently in the final stages of installing waterfront facilities and landscaping.

Once Waterfront Phase 1-1 is completed, seawater will circulate through sluice gates to maintain the water quality of retention ponds within Songdo International City at the level of the Incheon coastal waters, and prevent flood damage caused by heavy rain. The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority plans to create rest areas such as waterfront facilities, scenic pedestrian bridges, and plazas along the connected waterways.

The Waterfront Phase 1-2 (9.53 km) project is currently undergoing detailed design for the section from Lakes 6 and 8 to the northern connecting waterway and northern waterway, aiming to issue construction bids in the second half of this year.

The Waterfront Phase 2 project, which will be developed between the Incheon New Port hinterland and Songdo urban area, will request a local fiscal investment review once the feasibility study results are released in July.

Subsequently, from next year, follow-up procedures such as changes to the development plan and incorporation into the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries’ basic reclamation plan for public waters will be carried out, aiming for construction to start in 2024 and completion in 2027.

With a budget of 351.3 billion KRW, Phase 2 will create waterfront tourism facilities by constructing two sluice gates and one lock on a 5.7 km long, 300 m wide waterway in front of Solchan Park and Jack Nicklaus Golf Club, and developing the surrounding land.

The Songdo Waterfront project is being implemented in stages to improve water quality through seawater inflow using tidal differences (the difference between low and high tide) and to enhance disaster prevention functions, as Songdo is surrounded by the sea on three sides. The total length is 16 km, with widths ranging from 40 to 500 m, and the total project cost is 621.5 billion KRW.

Upon completion, the waterfront project will maintain an average seawater level of 1 m and sustain water quality of grade 3 or higher through seawater inflow. Additionally, in the event of heavy rainfall, it will secure a freshwater capacity of approximately 10 million tons up to a planned flood level of 3.5 m, preventing flood damage.

The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority envisions transforming Songdo into a beautiful and romantic "city of water" like Venice in Italy or Amsterdam in the Netherlands by attracting marinas and water leisure sports facilities based on the waterfront.

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