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| A new bridge linking Seoullo 7017 and Seoul Station will be established by 2021. /Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government |
By Bahk Eun-ji
A new bridge linking Seoullo 7017 and Seoul Station will be completed by the end of next year, the city government said, Monday.
The new structure will allow people to move from the overpass-turned-skywalk to the station without having to come down from the skywalk and cross the road.
According to Seoul Metropolitan Government, it will sign an agreement with the Korea Rail Network Authority and Hanwha Station Development, Tuesday, over the construction and management of the new bridge.
Under the agreement, the city government will build a 40-meter-long, six-meter-wide bridge budgeted for 2 billion won by the end of 2020 to link Seoullo with the rooftop of a former Seoul Station building which is now occupied by Lotte Mart and parking lots.
The rooftop, which is currently used for parking, will be transformed into a 2,300-square-meter resting place with gardens, along with other cultural facilities in the building.
A city official said Seoul Station has been like an "isolated island" as it is surrounded by railways and motorways and pedestrians have low accessibility to it.
"Seoullo 7017 was connected with Hotel Manu and the Daewoo Foundation building in 2017, with Metro Tower in 2019 and now Seoul Station. The walking network linking Seoullo and nearby buildings is getting stronger," he said.
"Located in central Seoul, Seoul Station plays an important role as visitors' first impression of the city. The new bridge will strengthen Seoul's identity as a walkable city," Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said in a statement.
"The cultural and resting space is also expected to vitalize the regional economy around the station."
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