Yangjae-daero Downgraded from Expressway: "Motorcycles Can Now Travel Freely"

5.4 km Section from Suseo IC to Yangjae IC

Improved Motorcycle Access

Expanded Neighborhood Connectivity with More Crosswalks

The 5.4-kilometer section of Yangjae-daero, stretching from Suseo IC in Gangnam-gu to Yangjae IC in Seocho-gu, will be downgraded from an expressway to a general road for the first time in 37 years.

On March 25, Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that, as part of its ongoing effort to eliminate outdated regulations since last year, the entire stretch of Yangjae-daero will be operated as a general road starting from March 26.

Location map of Yangjae-daero expressway release section. Seoul City

This section had been operated as an expressway for 37 years since February 1989. However, there have been ongoing criticisms that the road structure and its usage do not align, as sidewalks and pedestrian crossings—which are not permitted on expressways—have been installed along the route.

In particular, although the road also serves local traffic, motorcycle riders have faced inconvenience as they have been required to detour due to the expressway designation, which, in principle, restricts access for pedestrians and motorcycles. Additionally, despite the presence of bus stops, local buses were unable to pick up standing passengers on the expressway, resulting in a structural problem where city buses were effectively operating in violation of regulations.

With this measure, motorcycles will now be allowed on Yangjae-daero, and city buses will be able to operate in compliance with relevant regulations. Furthermore, neighborhoods previously divided by the road will be reconnected by increasing the number of pedestrian crossings.

Seoul Metropolitan Government expects that the utilization of space and economic value in surrounding areas will also improve as a result. This is because the connectivity of nearby commercial and residential areas, previously isolated like islands due to the expressway regulation, will be restored. The city plans to revise regulations that are disconnected from on-site realities and transition to a transportation environment focused on walking and public transit.

Han Byung-yong, Director General of Seoul's Disaster and Safety Office, stated, "The revocation of Yangjae-daero's expressway status marks a turning point, removing outdated regulations that restricted daily life and organically reconnecting previously fragmented spaces in Seoul." He added, "We will continue to identify and revise regulations that are disconnected from the field in order to alleviate citizens' inconveniences."

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