The government will swiftly complete ongoing road and railway projects, such as the new construction of the 1st Circular Line (Pangyo to Toweigwon) and the Iksu to Gwacheon complex tunnel, in accordance with the maintenance of the first generation new town leading districts, including Bundang, Pyeongchon, Sanbon, Ilsan, and Jungdong. It will also expand metropolitan bus routes and frequencies, and install transfer centers at major metropolitan transportation hubs, such as Seongnam, KINTEX, and Geumjeong Station, to enhance the convenience of public transportation. This is a measure to alleviate the traffic congestion expected to worsen due to the population increase following the maintenance of the first generation new towns.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced the 'Phase-wise metropolitan transportation improvement plan for the first generation new towns,' which outlines these details.
Traffic congestion is expected to worsen after the maintenance of the first generation new towns. As of last year, daily traffic was 2.64 million trips, which is projected to increase by 17% (420,000 trips/day) to 2.88 million daily trips by 2040. Bundang is anticipated to see the most severe congestion post-maintenance, increasing from 810,000 to 1,045,000 daily trips. The expected increases in daily trips are as follows: ▲ Ilsan (574,000 trips → 651,000 trips) ▲ Jungdong (318,000 trips → 375,000 trips) ▲ Pyeongchon (518,000 trips → 551,000 trips) ▲ Sanbon (247,000 trips → 264,000 trips).
◇ Expedited approval for existing projects… Promotion of public transportation expansion
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to complete the currently planned road and railway projects in a timely manner to realize a system where public transport is established before the occupancy. The Metropolitan Transportation Committee intends to complete the road and railway projects, which are being promoted as part of upper-level plans and metropolitan transportation improvement measures, by 2035, before the maintenance of the new towns. Additionally, it is reviewing a plan to expedite approvals for these projects by promoting revisions to the 'Metropolitan Transportation Act' that would allow for direct approval of road plans.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will also enhance the convenience of public transportation, aiming to induce a shift from car usage to public transport. For the metropolitan buses, taking into account the current progress of maintenance in the first generation new towns, increased traffic volume, and the opening of the Metropolitan Express Railway (GTX), the routes and frequencies will be flexibly adjusted according to relocation and occupancy timings.
To enhance convenience in transfers, the connectivity of public transportation will also be strengthened. Transfer centers are planned to be installed at major metropolitan transportation hubs in the first generation new towns. In Bundang, this includes Seongnam Station; in Ilsan, KINTEX Station and Daegok Station; and in Pyeongchon and Sanbon, Geumjeong Station. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to enhance the convenience for metropolitan transportation users through support for city tram installation in line with the timing of transfer center establishment and by adjusting city and village bus routes.
◇ Bundang actively supports the preliminary feasibility assessment for the 1st circular line… Improving the road structure of the Ilsan Freeway
Specifically, when examining the metropolitan transportation improvement plan for each city, Bundang will first actively promote the 1st Circular Line (Pangyo to Toweigwon) to alleviate congestion in bottleneck areas. The preliminary feasibility assessment for the 1st Circular Line is currently underway, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will actively coordinate its passage. The underground expressway on the Gyeongbu Line (Giheung to Yangjae), which is under private sector suitability assessment, will also be expedited. The Seongnam to Bokjeong BRT is also planned to open in 2026. To disperse traffic, the Wolgok-Pangyo Line and the Suseo-Gwangju Line will open in 2028 and 2030, respectively, along with the Wirae-Samdong Line (currently under preliminary feasibility assessment).
Ilsan will see the opening of GTX-A (Wondong Central to Seoul) within the year and will begin improving the road structure of the Ilsan Freeway. In 2031, the Goyang-Eunpyeong Line will open, and improvements will be made to the Gimpo-Gwansan Road and Local Road No. 356. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will actively coordinate the preliminary feasibility assessment for the extension of Line 2 in Incheon.
Pyeongchon and Sanbon will swiftly promote GTX-C and push for the completion of the Iksu to Gwacheon complex tunnel by 2030. The construction of a bypass road for National Route 47 will also be underway. The Wolgok-Pangyo Line and the Indukwon-Dongtan Line are also targeted for operation by 2028.
In Jungdong, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will actively coordinate for the preliminary feasibility assessment of the Gyeongin Expressway, and will promptly undertake the expansion of major road segments connecting Jungdong and Seoul, such as Ojeong-ro and Beolmal-ro. The Daegonghongdae Line is also expected to break ground in the third quarter of next year, aiming for completion by 2030. The GTX-B will be expedited and discussions on the preliminary feasibility assessment for the western area express railway (Gimpo Janggi to Bucheon Sports Complex) will be actively coordinated. Additionally, the completion of the Seochang to Gimpo Expressway (undergrounding the 1st Circular Line) and the Gwangmyeong to Seoul Expressway will also be expedited.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to incorporate upper-level planning for transportation networks, review private investment projects, utilize metropolitan transportation facility fees, and apply metropolitan transportation improvement plans for adjacent districts to ensure timely promotion of metropolitan transportation projects.