Half of Soundproof Walls That Divided Incheon’s Urban Core for 30 Years Removed... Incheon-daero to Become a Local Road for Residents

【Financial News Incheon = Han Gap-su】 Soundproof walls that blocked Incheon’s old urban center for more than 30 years are gradually disappearing. This follows the Incheon-daero Generalization Project’s move into full-scale construction, as the former Incheon section of the Gyeongin Expressway is being reorganized into a general road and an expressway.
Incheon Metropolitan City’s Comprehensive Construction Headquarters said on the 16th that it had removed 50% of the existing soundproof walls along the Phase 2 section of the Incheon-daero Generalization Project.
Where the soundproof walls have been removed, the view now extends across the road, revealing spaces that had long been cut off. Residents are paying close attention because the change goes beyond the removal of structures; it is reconnecting communities that had been divided by Incheon-daero for many years.
Incheon-daero once served as a key east-west transportation route in Incheon when it was used as the Gyeongin Expressway. However, the installation of soundproof walls and retaining walls along the expressway created physical barriers and separated neighboring communities.
The project focuses on changing this urban structure. Phase 2 covers a 5.64-kilometer section from the Juan Industrial Complex Overpass to the West Incheon Interchange. The existing upper road will be rebuilt as a pedestrian-friendly local road, while a 4.27-kilometer underground expressway tunnel will be constructed below it to maintain vehicle access. The upper road is scheduled for completion in 2031, and the underground tunnel in 2030. After completing the removal of the retaining walls and soundproof walls, the city plans to convert the existing lanes in stages and begin construction of the underground tunnel in the center of the road this December.
Work is already underway on earlier sections. Construction on the 1-1 phase, covering the section from Inha University Hospital Intersection to Dokbae-ro, began in May 2023. Soundproof and retaining wall removal, road paving, and other work are in progress, with construction progress currently at 41.7%. The section is scheduled for completion next October.
Construction on the 1-2 phase, covering the section from Dokbae-ro to the Juan Industrial Complex Overpass, began in July 2024. The work is currently 26.6% complete and is scheduled for completion next December.
The challenge is the inconvenience residents will face as the large-scale road structure is changed. As lanes are converted in stages and construction of the underground tunnel accelerates, rush-hour congestion and detours will be unavoidable. The impact could extend beyond vehicles using Incheon-daero to residents traveling through nearby residential areas and commercial districts.
The city plans to establish a traffic-management plan to minimize congestion caused by construction and strengthen safety management in the work zones.
Some observers say the success of the Incheon-daero Generalization Project will depend not only on how quickly the road is completed, but also on how effectively residents’ daily lives are protected throughout the construction period.
The city aims to resolve the long-standing division of the urban area and transform vehicle-centered spaces into places for residents. Attention is now focused on whether the changes that began with the removal of the soundproof walls will lead to better pedestrian conditions and stronger connections between communities.
Lee Han-nam, head of Incheon Metropolitan City’s Comprehensive Construction Headquarters, said, "As the soundproof walls that blocked the city center for more than 30 years are being removed, the positive urban changes expected from the Incheon-daero Generalization Project are gradually becoming more visible. We will carefully manage any inconvenience residents may experience during construction and carry out the project safely and swiftly."

[email protected] Han Gap-su Reporter