Ulsan Seeks Alternative Site for Tram Line 1 Depot After Taehwagang Station Plaza Ruled Out

【Financial News Ulsan = Reporter Choi Soo-sang】 The vehicle depot, a key facility for construction of Ulsan Urban Railway (Tram) Line 1, will be moved from the originally planned Taehwagang Station plaza to an alternative site.
Kim Chang-hyun, Ulsan City’s transport bureau chief, told a press conference at City Hall’s press center on the 19th that selecting an alternative site was unavoidable because installing the depot in Taehwagang Station plaza was not feasible in practice.
Ulsan City initially considered Taehwagang Station plaza the best site for the Tram Line 1 depot, given the advantages of using the existing hydrogen pipeline infrastructure and the fact that the land was publicly owned and required no compensation procedures. However, a survey of underground utilities and the ground during the design process by Hanshin Engineering & Construction, a company participating in the bidding, revealed serious obstacles.
The first was a high-pressure natural gas pipeline managed by Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS), measuring 762 mm in diameter and 357 m in length. The relocation was found to require 24 months of construction and cost 5.8 billion won, to be borne by the project owner.
The second issue was the ground. Taehwagang Station plaza was found to have soft ground composed of reclaimed soil, cohesive soil and sedimentary layers. Ground subsidence is expected from the long-term load generated when tram cars are parked overnight, and a diagnosis found that improving the ground alone would take an additional 24 months.
As a result, at least six years (72 months) would be needed: two years to relocate underground utilities, two years to improve the soft ground and two years to build the depot. That is 27 months longer than the currently allotted construction period of 45 months. Construction costs are also estimated to rise by at least 30 billion won because of pipeline relocation costs, inflation and indirect costs.

Transport Bureau Chief Kim Chang-hyun asked for the public’s understanding, saying, “Given the insufficient construction time, increased project costs and inconvenience to residents caused by a prolonged project, relocating the depot is unavoidable.”
However, even if the depot is moved, the hydrogen refueling station will remain at Taehwagang Station plaza as originally planned, making use of the hydrogen pipeline infrastructure already in place.
Ulsan City plans to identify and select the best alternative depot site along the Tram Line 1 route that can be built within the designated construction period, and then announce its choice to the public. The city also emphasized that it would transparently disclose any changes or legal procedures arising as the project proceeds, actively gather public input and address any shortcomings.

[email protected] Choi Soo-sang Reporter