Seoul City plans to build a new bridge named “World Cup” in western Han River. / Courtesy of Seoul City Hall |
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter
Seoul City is going to begin construction of a new bridge across the Han River, connecting Mapo and Yeongdeungpo in April.
The new cable-stayed bridge, named World Cup Bridge, will be six lanes wide and 1.9-kilometers-long. It will be positioned between the Seongsan and Gayang bridges.
The construction will cost 360 billion won and calls for bids through the Public Procurement Service are being made now. The winning bidder will be chosen in mid-February and construction will start in April, with the aim to complete the project by 2015.
When finished, the World Cup Bridge will link Jeungsan-ro and Naebu Expressway, on the inner circulation beltway of the northern side of the river, and Gonghang-ro and Seobu Expressway on the south.
"We expect the new bridge to complete the main artery system of the southwestern part of the city and ease traffic jams on the Seongsan Bridge and in nearby areas," a city official said. The city estimates 99,000 vehicles a day, around 44 percent of Seongsan Bridge's daily traffic, will use the new bridge.
The bridge will also have a two-way, bicycle-only lane, the first among bridges over the Han River. The bicycle lanes will connect the river's bike paths.
meeyoo@koreatimes.co.kr
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