Seongnam Sunaegyo Bridge Lane Opening Delayed to December

The opening of the Bundang-bound lane of the Sunaegyo bridge in Seongnam's Bundang-gu has been pushed back to December, a five-month delay from the original July target. This setback is attributed to the unexpected discovery of an underground sewer pipe during construction, which was not documented in past design blueprints.

The discovery has led to a halt in progress as engineers must now alter the design to either bypass or protect the pipe. This requires a comprehensive structural safety re-evaluation, making an extension of the construction period unavoidable, according to city officials.

Seongnam Mayor Shin Sang-jin expressed his sincere apologies for failing to meet the promised deadline, emphasizing that the safety of citizens is paramount. He assured the public that the city would prioritize ensuring thorough safety measures over rushing the construction process.

The Sunaegyo bridge is a critical component of Bundang-ro, a major road in the Bundang new city, serving as a vital link to Pangyo, the Gyeongbu Expressway, and the Bundang-Naegok urban expressway. The bridge, originally completed in 1993, was classified as 'poor' (E grade) in a recent safety inspection, prompting its full reconstruction. The project, with a total budget of 36.9 billion won, is being carried out in phases to minimize traffic disruption, maintaining its original eight lanes. The city is currently in the second phase, demolishing the existing Bundang-bound lane and constructing a new one, after having operated a temporary road with a temporary bridge since February 2023.

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We have made efforts to minimize traffic inconvenience, but we sincerely apologize for not keeping our promise. Above all, citizen safety is the most important thing, so we will do our best to thoroughly secure safety rather than being rushed by the construction speed.