Exactly fifty years after its initial construction, Seoul’s Jamsu Bridge has officially closed to all motor vehicles, transitioning into a dedicated pedestrian and cycling zone as part of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s grand waterfront revitalization initiative.
The total traffic ban took effect at midnight, shifting the historic bridge over the Han River into a dedicated public recreational space.
Since the Banpo Bridge is right above us, if there is a need to go up, we just take the Banpo Bridge up, and if there is a need to come down, we take the Banpo Bridge down.
City officials projected that the closure would cause only minor reductions in overall transit speeds across immediate crossings. Despite the smooth transition, municipal traffic cameras caught a few stray motorists accidentally entering the approach ramps before safely turning around.
To accommodate the shift, city bus routes 405 and 740, which previously traversed the low-lying span, have been permanently rerouted across the upper deck. The Seoul Metropolitan Government is actively broadcasting the new transit patterns through on-site informational signage, internal transit audio systems, and the official Seoul Transport Operation and Information Service.
Transforming the Waterfront
Following the vehicular cutoff, the city’s blueprint for the span involves installing 22 distinct viewing platforms, transparent glass floor decking, and dedicated zones for public festivals and cultural events. These structural additions aim to turn the infrastructure into an active pedestrian thoroughfare rather than a mere transit shortcut.
Vehicular passage on Jamsugyo, or Jamsu Bridge, will be permanently banned starting Oct. 26, as the low-level bridge across the Han River will be transitioned into a pedestrian-centered cultural area, Seoul metropolitan government said Thursday.https://t.co/NtniQGfCNi pic.twitter.com/lDnZgbUvBq
The municipal plan extends beyond the riverbanks, encompassing the northern subterranean underpass zones to clear all motorized traffic and establish uninterrupted pedestrian pathways. This wider civil engineering effort is designed to connect the Yongsan and Itaewon districts directly to the Han River parks with improved safety and aesthetic appeal.
Pedestrian and bicycle conversion construction is scheduled to run through August of next year. Municipal authorities noted that during the final phases of the construction timeline, access will be temporarily restricted even for walkers and cyclists as final paving and safety installations are completed.
More on Jamsu Bridge
The Jamsu Bridge, the rare submersible lower-level of the double-decker Banpo Bridge in Seoul, will be transformed into the city's first pedestrian-only bridge over the Han River by next year, the city government said Thursday.https://t.co/gacHUXHLXP
