Right now let’s turn our gaze to the Jamwon Elevated Road. It stands as a testament to Seoul’s ambitious urban planning. The Jamwon Elevated Road is part of a network of elevated roads. These roads and overpasses were constructed to ease traffic congestion.
Elevated roads lift traffic above ground level. This avoids intersections with surface streets. According to Korea’s “National Land Planning and Utilization Act” they are vital infrastructure. They facilitate smooth traffic flow.
Imagine Seoul in the 1960s. The city was experiencing rapid population growth. Urban sprawl strained the existing infrastructure. The four main gates of the old city became bottlenecks. Traffic from the outskirts converged on the city center. This created daily gridlock. The road network struggled to cope with rising traffic.
To combat this, Seoul initiated the Elevated Road Construction Plan in 1967. The goal was to立体化 or make three-dimensional the city’s transportation network. The Jamwon Elevated Road was part of this vision.
Kim Hyun-ok became mayor of Seoul in 1966. He championed the construction of elevated roads. His slogan was “The city is a road.” He launched large-scale construction projects. These projects reshaped Seoul’s landscape.
The earliest elevated roads included the Ahyeon Elevated Road, opened in 1968. The Seosomun and Gwanghui elevated roads followed. The Jamwon Elevated Road addressed traffic bottlenecks at intersections. It allowed vehicles to bypass traffic signals. This improved traffic flow on radial arterial roads.
By the 1980s many elevated roads were constructed. This was in preparation for the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The goal was to enhance the 방사축 or radial arterial road system. The Jamwon Elevated Road played its part.
However, not everyone supported elevated roads. Critics argued they prioritized cars over public transport. Some experts favored 지하철 or subway construction.
But Mayor Kim Hyun-ok, nicknamed “Bulldozer,” pressed ahead. He oversaw the opening of the Ahyeon Elevated Road.
The Samil Elevated Road opened in 1969. It was built near the Samil Building. The Seoul Station Elevated Road opened in 1970. The Cheonggye Elevated Road opened in 1971. These projects symbolized Seoul’s modernization.
From the late 1960s Seoul continued to build elevated roads. Other cities across Korea followed suit. Elevated roads offered speed and efficiency. They symbolized Seoul’s progress.
But over time, problems emerged. Many elevated roads deteriorated. They became eyesores. These roads were regarded as a safety hazard.
From the 2000s Seoul began removing elevated roads. In 2002 the Dongdaemun Stadium Elevated Road was removed. This marked a shift in urban planning. Mayor Lee Myung-bak prioritized buses. The policy focused on expanding 중앙버스전용차로 or median bus lanes.
In 2017, the Seoul Station Elevated Road was transformed into the Seoullo 7017. It became a pedestrian walkway. Seventeen walkways connect to the surrounding area.
The Jamwon Elevated Road stands as a reminder of Seoul’s past. It reflects a period of rapid growth. Today, it continues to serve its purpose. It helps to keep Seoul moving.