[Urban Planning News] Future Vision of the Northeastern Area with Jungnangcheon Stream as the Center” Project
The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) has announced the . The vision was prepared to transform the countenance of the northeastern area, where 3.2 million people live in 8 autonomous districts. According to the plan, the Dongbu Expressway, which has lost its function as an urban expressway with an average traffic speed of 24km/h and has been frequently flooded by localized torrential downpour, will be reconstructed as two underground roads with expanded lanes (from 6 to 8) by 2026.
After the ground roads are cleared away, the Jungnangcheon area will be reborn as an ‘Eco-friendly Riverside Park’ with an area of around 2.21 million ㎡, 10 times larger than Yeouido Park. In addition, Jungnangcheon will be repaired to be a flood-safe stream by improving the flood control capacity from the current 100-year frequency (with a controllable maximum rainfall of 110 mm per hour), which has been vulnerable to inundation during periods of heavy rainfall, to a 200-year frequency (with a controllable maximum rainfall of 121mm per hour), which is applied for Hangang (River) and Anyangcheon (Stream), through consultation with related institutions.
After the ground roads are cleared away, the Jungnangcheon area will be reborn as an ‘Eco-friendly Riverside Park’ with an area of around 2.21 million ㎡, 10 times larger than Yeouido Park. In addition, Jungnangcheon will be repaired to be a flood-safe stream by improving the flood control capacity from the current 100-year frequency (with a controllable maximum rainfall of 110 mm per hour), which has been vulnerable to inundation during periods of heavy rainfall, to a 200-year frequency (with a controllable maximum rainfall of 121mm per hour), which is applied for Hangang (River) and Anyangcheon (Stream), through consultation with related institutions.
The SMG has established three major action plans for the as follows; ① Construction of underground roads to replace the Dongbu Expressway ② Improvement of flood control capacity, and ③ Creation of waterfront space and restoration of an ecological stream. Around KRW 2 trillion and 397.1 billion (▲ public finance 50% ▲ private capital 29% ▲ public contribution 21%) in total will be invested in the project by 2026.
① Construction of Underground Roads Replacing the Dongbu Expressway: Divided into two roads, the Urban Expressway (by 2023) and the Local Principal Road (by 2026)
Some parts of the Dongbu Expressway constructed in the riversides are temporary (illegal) roads according to the River Act. It has suffered from chronic traffic congestion, crowded with a number of long and short distance driving vehicles. Dongbu Expressway will be replaced by two underground roads: ▲ ‘Urban Expressway’ (with 4~6 lanes and 13.9km in length from Samseong to Wolgyegyo 1 Bridge), appropriate for long-distance driving, and ▲ ‘Local Principal Road’ (with 4 lanes and 8km in length from Seongdong to Wollenggyo Bridge), appropriate for short-distance driving.
② Improvement of Flood Control Capacity: Improved Capacity to Treat the Maximum Rainfall from 110mm to 122mm
The SMG will consult with related organizations in order to identify and specify methods to improve the flood control capacity of Jungnangcheon Stream from the current 100-year design frequency to a 200-year design frequency. In addition, the SMG will also begin in this year to seek methods to construct flood control roads for better water drainage along with the underground road construction, and to expand the cross-sectional area of flow by repairing the streamsides of Jungnangcheon Stream after removal of the existing road.
③ Creation of Waterfront Space and Restoration of Ecological Stream: Creation of ‘Eco-friendly Waterside Park,’ with an area 10 times larger than Yeouido Park
The waterfront space of Jungnangcheon Stream covering the underground roads passes through 8 autonomous districts in a total length of 20.8km. It will be divided into 3 zones, for each of which the improvement plan will be prepared. The space will be created as an eco-friendly area for citizens’ leisure along the stream, similar to Dockland in London and M30 in Madrid.
With the goal of making the entire Jungnangcheon Stream a ‘Water Fun Stream’, the SMG will further strengthen water quality management by enhancing the Jungnang Sewage Treatment Center and introducing small-scale water treatment plants. It will also create habitats to encourage the development of ecological environments in which a variety of wildlife can thrive.
With the goal of making the entire Jungnangcheon Stream a ‘Water Fun Stream’, the SMG will further strengthen water quality management by enhancing the Jungnang Sewage Treatment Center and introducing small-scale water treatment plants. It will also create habitats to encourage the development of ecological environments in which a variety of wildlife can thrive.