Seoul to transform 8-lane highway into floating park

This image, provided by the Seoul city government, shows a rendering of the Banpo District Hangang Connection Park, to be built by 2027 as part of the city's pedestrian-friendly measures.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Thursday unveiled a set of plans to overhaul a portion of Seoul city’s eight-lane highway, Olympicdaero, with a public park that covers a subterranean roadway by 2027.

This proposal is part of a wider project to make the city more pedestrian-friendly. Currently, it is difficult to access Banpo Hangang Park on foot because it is blocked by Olympicdaero. People have to use a pedestrian flyover to reach the park by walking.

“The plan is to create a public park covering the roadway so that people can reach Hangang Park on foot,” an official from the Seoul Metropolitan Government said. The public park covering Olympicdaero is scheduled to be built by 2027.

The plans include a proposal for the reconstruction project near the area. The Seoul Metropolitan Government also announced Thursday that a portion of the Banpo Jugong apartment complex in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul, will be reconstructed into a public park. The current Banpo Hangang Park will then be connected to the reconstructed complex. This area will be called the Banpo District Hangang Connection Park, according to officials.

In the connection park with an area of 53,362 square meters, an exhibition center featuring displays on the modern life and housing scenery of Seoul, and a culture and art complex center holding various cultural events, will be built. The budget for this set of plans is over 113.6 billion won ($85.3 million).

The city said that it will receive bid proposals from all around the world to seek innovative designs, starting Thursday. It will also hold an explanation meeting for the bid proposals on Feb. 13.

By Lee Jaeeun(jenn@heraldcorp.com)