Expansion of 5th Lane Under Wonhyogado Bridge in Front of Namyeong Station... Yongsan-gu and Korea Rail Network Authority Agreement Ceremony

Expectations for Alleviating Chronic Traffic Congestion, Enhancing Pedestrian Safety and Convenience

On the 24th, a consignment agreement ceremony for the expansion of the underpass road of Wonhyo Bridge and the establishment of a pedestrian passage was held at Yongsan District Office. (Right: Park Hee-young, Mayor of Yongsan District; Left: Choi Young-hwan, Head of the Metropolitan Headquarters of the Korea Rail Network Authority). Provided by Yongsan District Office.

Yongsan-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Park Hee-young) announced on the 25th that it has reached a final agreement with the Korea Rail Network Authority on the expansion of the underpass road beneath Wonhyogado Bridge on the Gyeongbu Line and the establishment of a new pedestrian walkway, and signed a consignment agreement on the 24th.

Wonhyogado Bridge (around 95-2 Galwol-dong), adjacent to Namyeong Station on Subway Line 1, is an aging steel bridge with safety concerns and is a site of frequent congestion and pedestrian inconvenience due to bottlenecks.

The agreement between the district office and the Authority focuses on alleviating the frequent bottlenecks on the underpass road beneath Wonhyogado Bridge by expanding the width of the upper girder (a type of beam placed under the bridge deck) and reducing the width of the abutments (structures at both ends of the bridge supporting the superstructure), thereby expanding the underpass road towards Seoul Station from two lanes one-way to three lanes one-way (from 4 lanes two-way to 5 lanes two-way), and establishing a pedestrian walkway (2.6m in length, 2.1m in width).

The construction is expected to be completed by December 2026. Of the total project cost of 5.012 billion KRW, Yongsan-gu will bear 2.81 billion KRW including construction and project management costs, while the Korea Rail Network Authority will cover 2.211 billion KRW for construction. The Authority will handle design and construction, and after completion, the district will be responsible for maintenance of the roadway and pedestrian paths.

Wonhyogado Bridge, constructed in 1936, is a steel railway bridge connecting Seoul Station and Yongsan Station, serving as a nationally important railway facility with 940 train operations per day. In April last year, the Korea Rail Network Authority began a full renovation project to replace the aging steel bridge with concrete to ensure train operation safety, prevent safety accidents for nearby residents, and address complaints related to noise and vibration.

Following residents’ requests for road expansion, the district office sought alternatives and, through meetings with the Korea Rail Network Authority and consultations with stakeholders, explored solutions to the inconveniences. The cost-sharing for the project was decided according to the mediation proposal by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission.

The signing ceremony was attended by District Mayor Park Hee-young and Choi Young-hwan, Head of the Metropolitan Headquarters of the Korea Rail Network Authority, among others. The district and the Authority went through procedures including changes in construction methods, supplementary design, investment review and modification, and mediation by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission before reaching the agreement.

Mayor Park said, “The months of effort to resolve the long-standing wishes of the residents have borne fruit,” and added, “The district will continue to gather opinions from local residents, and the Rail Network Authority will utilize its expertise to ensure the construction is completed quickly and safely.”

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