Seoul road project to worsen Incheon commute, data shows

Seoul's ambitious road construction project, aimed at improving the Gukhoe-daero (National Assembly Road) and the Sinwol-Yeouido underpass, is projected to significantly worsen traffic for those commuting from Incheon to the capital's Yeouido district. Data obtained by Rep. Huh Jong-sik of the Democratic Party reveals that average speeds will drop from 34.8 km/h to 27.5 km/h once the project is finished.

Traffic speeds had already slowed to around 35 km/h since construction began on the Gukhoe-daero, which started in 2018. The project involves building an underpass and creating a park on the upper section of the 4.1 km stretch from Sinwol IC to Mokdong Sports Complex. The remaining 3.5 km to Yeouido will see a reduction in the number of traffic lanes. The entire project is slated for completion around the end of 2029.

Even the new, free-access underpass, designed to alleviate congestion from the reduced surface lanes, is expected to face severe traffic issues. Projections show the volume-to-capacity ratio for the Yeouido-bound underpass will reach 0.98, indicating a near-constant state of saturation.

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Incheon citizens have endured immense social costs, including wasted time and fuel, trapped on the roads. It is absurd that Seoul city's analysis predicts that even after spending a huge budget, the entry speed to the existing surface road will slow down, and the new free underpass will also be in a constant state of saturation at 98% capacity.

"Incheon citizens have endured immense social costs, including wasted time and fuel, trapped on the roads," Rep. Huh stated. "It is absurd that Seoul city's analysis predicts that even after spending a huge budget, the entry speed to the existing surface road will slow down, and the new free underpass will also be in a constant state of saturation at 98% capacity."

He urged Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon to devise measures that fundamentally resolve the bottleneck at the Yeouido entrance of Gukhoe-daero and guarantee the commuting rights of Incheon citizens.

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Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon to devise measures that fundamentally resolve the bottleneck at the Yeouido entrance of Gukhoe-daero and guarantee the commuting rights of Incheon citizens.