Seoul City to remove 8 overpasses in phases from 2017

Seoul City to remove 8 overpasses in phases from 2017. September. 13, 2016 10:36. by 황태호기자 taeho@donga.com.

Eight overpasses in Seoul including that were built in the 1970s will be removed. Seoul City will remove eight overpasses through 2021, including Hannam 2 Overpass set to be dismantled next year, Nodeul Nam (south) Overpass and Nodeul Buk (north) Overpass, Seonyu Overpass, Sadang Overpass, Gangnam Terminal Overpass, and Yeongdong-daegyo Bukdan Overpass.

Starting with Ahyeon Overpass that opened in 1968, a total of 101 overpasses have been built in Seoul thus far. Overpasses in the city were a key measure to ease traffic jams in the city due to explosive growth of vehicles resulting from robust economic development. They were also considered a symbol of urban development. However, since they are deemed as a cause that degrades urban landscape and cut off areas in the city lately, they are widely regarded as "nuisances."

Removal of overpasses started in 2002. Eighteen overpasses have been removed, starting with Tteokjeon Overpass in Jeonnong-dong in Seoul, and Seodaemun Overpass that was dismantled last year. Most overpasses that have been removed are short-distance roads extending 1 kilometer or less, but Cheonggye Overpass that was completely dismantled in October 2003, extended 5,864 meters from Chungmuro 2-ga in Jung-gu to Yongdu-dong in Dongdaemun-gu. This is where Cheonggye Stream is located now.

Seoul City singled out the eight overpasses by reviewing the viability for removal of the remaining 83 from June last year. Criteria for selection included construction of street-center bus-only lanes on the road under the overpass (Hannam Overpass 2, Sadang Overpass), the need to secure more lanes for construction of housing projects (Gangnam Terminal Overpass, Yeongdong-daegyo Bukdan Overpass), and easing of divide between areas (Guro Overpass). The city also decided to keep the remaining 75 intact for now.