Tunnelling contractors eyeing the South Korean market have had a welcome bonus after the construction and transportation ministry gave the green light to three new extensions, costing about US$1.78bn to Seoul’s metro system.
The largest scheme involves a US$826M, 9.8km extension to Line 7 from the existing terminus at Onsu via Sangdong in Puchon. This will connect with Pupyong-guchong station on Incheon’s Line 1 metro.
Detailed designs are expected to be finished by December 2004 ready for construction to begin the following year. Completion is expected in 2009.
A construction ministry official said: “a growing number of people are commuting daily from outside Seoul to the capital. The new section will meet the rising demand in the west of Seoul.”
The ministry has also given the go-ahead to a US$587M, 6.7km southern extension to Incheon’s Line 1 that will connect Tongmak station with Songdo.
Construction will start in December 2003 for completion in 2007.
The final scheme is a US$366M project to build a 3km extension to Seoul’s Line 3 from Suso via Karaksijang to Okum. The extension will provide an interchange between Lines 1 and 5 at Karaksijang and an interchange between Lines 1 and 8 at Okum.
Detailed designs should be completed by November 2003 ready for construction to start a month later. Completion is due in 2008.
