Excavation Gets Underway on Han River Tunnel for Gimpo-Paju Expressway... Travel Time to Drop from 59 to 15 Minutes Upon Opening

Paju-bound tunnel broke through in April; Gimpo-bound excavation begins on the 6th
25.4-km, four-lane expressway from Yangchon-eup to Paju-eup; completion targeted for 2029
Mayor Lee Gihyeong: "We aim to build a transportation network that residents can experience firsthand... We will continue to cooperate"

Excavation has begun on the Gimpo-bound tunnel of the Han River Tunnel, part of the Gimpo-Paju section of the Second Ring Expressway in the Seoul metropolitan area. This follows the breakthrough of the Paju-bound tunnel in April, with excavation now underway in the opposite direction. Once the Gimpo-Paju Expressway opens, the distance between Gimpo and Paju is expected to be shortened by about 17.7 km, from 43.1 km to 25.4 km, while travel time is expected to fall by 44 minutes, from 59 minutes to 15 minutes.

Gimpo Mayor Lee Gihyeong and other attendees pose for a commemorative photo after a ceremony marking the start of tunnel excavation toward Gimpo at the Han River Tunnel construction site in Songchon-dong, Paju, on the 6th. Photo provided by Gimpo City.

A ceremony marking the start of excavation on the Gimpo-bound tunnel was held on the 6th at the Han River Tunnel construction site in Songchon-dong, Paju. The Han River Tunnel is 2.98 km long and will connect Gimpo and Paju beneath the riverbed. The Paju-bound tunnel broke through on April 17.

A shield TBM (tunnel boring machine) with a diameter of 14 meters will be used for the project. Special methods will be applied for excavation and waterproofing, as the tunnel passes beneath the Han River, where water pressure is high and ground conditions are complex.

Korea Expressway Corporation is building a 25.4-km, two-way, four-lane expressway from Yangchon-eup, Gimpo, to Paju-eup, Paju. The project has a total budget of about 2.1694 trillion won and is targeted for completion in 2029. Once it opens, the distance between the two cities will be reduced from 43.1 km to 25.4 km. Gimpo City expects the project to make travel easier for residents in the northwestern Seoul metropolitan area and improve logistics transportation conditions.

Gimpo Mayor Lee Gihyeong delivers congratulatory remarks at a ceremony marking the start of excavation on the tunnel heading toward Gimpo at the Han River Tunnel construction site in Songchon-dong, Paju, on the 6th. Provided by Gimpo City.

Gimpo Mayor Lee Gihyeong, who attended the ceremony, said, "The Gimpo-Paju Expressway is a key link in the Second Ring Expressway in the Seoul metropolitan area and an important piece of infrastructure that will further strengthen Gimpo's regional transportation network. We will continue to work with the relevant agencies so that residents can experience the improved transportation environment as soon as possible."

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