Restructuring of entire Gangbyeon Expressway and Olympic Expressway under review

Gangbyeon Expressway near Hangangdaegyo Bridge in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, is a frequent congestion area. Yonhap News

The restructuring of Gangbyeon Expressway and Olympic Expressway is being considered to improve the connectivity of the Han River, which is currently hindered by arterial roads. This is to increase access to the Han River and improve traffic flow.

Seoul plans to complete the basic plan for restructuring the arterial roads along the Han River by the second half of 2026, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said on August 26. The project is currently in the bidding process, and the contractor will be selected next month.

The plan will cover the entire 26.7-kilometer Gangbyeon Expressway from Ganyangdaegyo Bridge to Cheonhodaegyo Bridge and the 36-kilometer Olympic Expressway from Haengjudaegyo Bridge to Guri-Amsadaegyo Bridge.

The two expressways, designed for long-distance high-speed traffic, play a role in dispersing city traffic to the outskirts, but with changes in the city’s structure, they also regularly cause congestion. As a result, the function of the expressways has deteriorated. They have also been recognized as obstacles to connecting the Han River and the city center.

Through this plan, Seoul plans to change the structure of the arterial roads when large-scale development projects are carried out around the Han River. The city will consider converting them to surface roads or utilizing the space above the roads.

The projects include the Yongsan International Business District Urban Development Project and the Sangam Development Project, as well as a project to create a covered park on Olympic Expressway connected to the Han River in the Banpo district. These include the Banpo, Jamsil, and Apgujeong area improvement projects, as well as the Dong Seoul Terminal modernization project.

A Seoul Metropolitan Government official explained, “To restore the function of the arterial roads along the Han River, we will also examine ways to streamline the entry and exit system of the bridges along the Han River.” “As it is a project with a large budget, we plan to develop a schematic project cost and financial investment plan, as well as determine project priorities linked to related plans.”

Seoul is also considering integrating it with the Yangjae-Goyang Expressway section, a private investment project promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport. The expressway will be constructed mostly as a deep tunnel under Gangbyeon Expressway, which is expected to have a major impact on traffic on the arterial roads along the Han River.

In addition, the aging infrastructure and maintenance costs of the bridge sections included in Gangbyeon Expressway and Olympic Expressway will be taken into consideration as part of efforts to improve views of the Han River and the overall cityscape.

“The arterial roads along the Han River, which have driven Seoul’s growth, need to be reorganized to accommodate the city’s changed needs,” said Kim Seong-bo, head of the Seoul Disaster and Safety Management Office. “Starting with this project, we will use the space freed up through the reconfiguration of the arterial roads to create parks, improving the quality of life for citizens.”

※This article has undergone review by a professional translator after being translated by an AI translation tool.