Yangjae-daero to Get Faster... Guryong-Irwon "Daemo Underpass" Opens on the 12th

Underground Connection from Guryong Village Entrance to Gaepo 3·4 Complex Intersection
Traffic Route Changes for Temporary Opening
"Congestion Relief Expected"

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 10th that the "Daemo Underpass," which connects the Guryong Village Entrance intersection and the Gaepo 3·4 Apartment Complex intersection underground, will open on the 12th. It is expected to significantly alleviate chronic congestion on Yangjae-daero.

The newly constructed Daemo Underpass has a total length of 1,174 meters and consists of four lanes for two-way traffic. By allowing vehicles to bypass a major congestion point on Yangjae-daero via an underground route, the underpass serves to directly connect the existing Guryong Underpass and Irwon Underpass.

View of 'Daemo Underpass' scheduled to open on the 12th. Seoul City

Yangjae-daero is one of Seoul’s main east-west arterial roads, linking the Gangnam Circular Urban Expressway and the Gyeongbu Expressway, and is subject to heavy traffic volumes with frequent congestion at key intersections. To relieve these bottlenecks and ensure smoother traffic flow, the city has been advancing a phased tunnel construction project for major sections. The Guryong Underpass opened in September 2014; Yeomgok-Dongseo Underpass was opened in December 2019; Maeheon Underpass opened in November to December 2020; and the Irwon Underpass has been in operation since December 1993.

With the opening of the Daemo Underpass, a sequence of major underpasses along Yangjae-daero—Maeheon, Yeomgok-Dongseo, Guryong, Daemo, and Irwon—will be complete. Commuters in the Yangjae-daero area can therefore expect much-improved travel convenience and reduced travel times, especially during peak hours.

Due to the temporary opening, certain lanes and traffic routes will change. The city plans to provide updates on major route changes and detour information through road variable message signs (VMS), banners, and updates on traffic apps and navigation systems to minimize driver confusion and support safe passage. Vehicles traveling from Yeongdong-daero, Samseong-ro, and Seolleung-ro toward Yangjae-daero (in the Yangjae direction) will not be able to make a left turn toward Guryong Tunnel at Guryong Tunnel Intersection. Vehicles moving from Samseong-ro and Seolleung-ro toward Yangjae-daero (in the Suseo direction) will not be able to access the Irwon Underpass.

Even after the temporary opening, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will ensure the remaining works—such as road restoration above the underpass and the creation of green areas—are completed on schedule without issue. The city is also committed to thorough on-site safety management and traffic control during the construction period to minimize inconvenience for residents. Lim Chun-geun, Head of the Seoul Urban Infrastructure Headquarters, stated, “The Daemo Underpass is a key segment that completes the underground traffic system on Yangjae-daero by connecting the existing Guryong and Irwon underpasses. Through the temporary opening, we aim to relieve congestion on the arterial roads in the Gangnam area and ensure that the remaining works are finished safely and without delay.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.