Government Accelerates Transportation Projects in Western Seoul Area

The government has decided to expedite key railway and road projects to alleviate traffic congestion and expand housing supply in the western Seoul area. Officials reviewed the progress of four projects, including the Daegok-Hongdae metropolitan railway and the extension of Seoul Subway Line 5 to Gimpo and Geomdan, and discussed ways to shorten project timelines.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that Deputy Minister Jeong Yi-kyung chaired a meeting on November 10 at the construction site of the Daegok-Hongdae metropolitan railway to assess improvements in transportation for the western Seoul area. The meeting examined the schedules and delays of each project in connection with housing supply measures announced on August 13 and October 29.

The Daegok-Hongdae metropolitan railway is a double-track electric railway project connecting Daegok in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, to Hongdae in Seoul over a distance of 20.1 kilometers. Construction began in April, and land compensation, vertical shaft excavation, and relocation of obstacles are currently underway. The ministry plans to support land acquisition and usage permits while strengthening project management with the Korea National Railway Corporation.

The extension of Seoul Subway Line 5 will stretch from Banghwa Station in Seoul to Geomdan in Incheon, passing through Gimpo. Basic planning will commence this month, with subsequent procedures including traffic demand assessments and design work. The western metropolitan express railway, connecting Gimpo Janggi Station and Bucheon Sports Complex Station, will establish a new 20.7-kilometer line and share 32.1 kilometers of the GTX-B line to link to Cheongnyangni Station in Seoul. Basic planning is expected to be completed in the first half of next year.

The Gyeonggi-Ganghwa Expressway, connecting 29.9 kilometers from Incheon Gyeonggi to Ganghwa, began construction in March and is currently undergoing land compensation and cultural heritage investigations. The government aims for completion by 2032, enhancing project management with the Korea Expressway Corporation. Once opened, travel time from Ganghwa to Seoul is expected to be reduced to around 20 minutes.

Deputy Minister Jeong stated, "We must accelerate the expansion of the railway and road networks to ease commuting difficulties for residents in the western Seoul area. We should proactively resolve factors causing project delays and streamline procedures where possible."