Incheon 'Baedari GwanTong Road' Final Section Breaks Ground After 20 Years... Opening in 2025

Groundbreaking Ceremony for Sungin Underpass Construction on the 15th

Incheon Sungin Underpass Groundbreaking Ceremony
Photo by Incheon City

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The final section of the Incheon 'Baetari Penetration Road' construction has broken ground after more than 20 years.

Incheon City held a groundbreaking ceremony on the 15th for the construction of the 'Sungin Underpass,' the last remaining third section of the total four sections connecting Jung-gu Sinheung-dong and Dong-gu Songhyeon-dong.

The city will invest 95.1 billion KRW to carry out the construction of the Sungin Underpass over a 725m section from Dong-gu Songnim-ro to Yudong Samgeori by 2025.

Once the Sungin Underpass construction is completed, the connecting road between Jung-gu Sinheung-dong and Dong-gu Songhyeon-dong is expected to be fully opened by the end of 2025.

Known as the 'Baedari Penetration Road,' this connecting road is 2.92 km long and 50 to 70 meters wide. It was planned to secure the street network of Incheon’s southern and northern sides to promote balanced development of Yeonsu-gu, Jung-gu, Dong-gu, and Seo-gu areas and revitalize the old downtown. The project was approved in 1999 and construction began in 2001.

However, while sections 1, 2, and 4 were sequentially completed by 2011, section 3 was not constructed due to residents’ opposition over concerns about regional division caused by road opening, deterioration of residential environment, and inconvenience for the elderly and disabled.

Despite spending 161.6 billion KRW, the road opening was delayed, prompting Incheon City to hold continuous consultations with the residents’ countermeasure committee.

Eventually, after proposing measures for old downtown revitalization such as banning trucks over 3 tons, limiting driving speed to under 50 km/h, and planting additional street trees, the city obtained permission to resume construction and reached a coexistence agreement.

Mayor Park Namchun stated, "The Sungin Underpass will connect the north and south of Incheon and help regional balanced development. The upper space will be developed into parks, cultural spaces, and parking lots based on residents’ opinions."

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