Promotion of Underground Construction for the Section from Neunghae IC to Hakik JC on the 2nd Gyeongin Expressway to Improve Residential Environment

Section for the Underground Construction of the 2nd Gyeongin Expressway [Provided by Incheon City]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City is promoting the underground construction of the 2nd Gyeongin Expressway to improve citizens' health and residential environment.

The city announced on the 11th that it has requested Korea Expressway Corporation to review the underground construction of approximately 1.2 km section from Neunghae Interchange (IC) to Hakik Junction (JC) on the 2nd Gyeongin Expressway for a pleasant residential environment in the currently developing 'Yonghyeon·Hakik Urban Development Project Area.'

This section serves as a gateway transporting cargo from Incheon Port nationwide, with an average of 57,000 vehicles per day and about 21 million vehicles annually.

When the expressway opened in 1994, the area around this section was an industrial complex, but with the urban development projects, numerous residential facilities have been built, turning the 2nd Gyeongin Expressway into a facility that harms the residential environment due to noise, dust generation, and landscape damage.

Currently, the area around Neunghae IC to Hakik JC is undergoing the Yonghyeon·Hakik Urban Development Project, and last year, four block projects including SK Skyview, Hakik Doosan We've, Hillstate Hakik, and Exlu Tower were completed, with residents having moved in.

Additionally, about 13,000 households are expected to move into the former site of Dongyang Steel Chemical near the 2nd Gyeongin Expressway by 2025, increasing the demand for residential environment improvement.

While the section after Hakik JC, where the Incheon Bridge access road connects, is expected to be difficult to underground, the city believes that the section passing through the urban development project area from Neunghae IC to Hakik JC can meet the expressway design standard (longitudinal gradient 3%) even if underground construction is implemented.

An official from Incheon City stated, "The 2nd Gyeongin Expressway has played a significant role in transporting cargo from Incheon Port for over 30 years, but now it is time to transform it into a form suitable for urban spaces for citizens," adding, "We will closely cooperate with related organizations to promote the project."

Expected View of the Second Gyeongin Expressway Underpass [Provided by Incheon City]

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