Seoul scraps last reversible lane after 44 years, widening sidewalks along Sogong-ro

Seoul's last reversible lane — on Sogong-ro — will be permanently retired after nearly 44 years and 10 months in operation. The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to replace it with wider lanes that meet legal standards and use the reclaimed space to expand sidewalks, improving both pedestrian safety and traffic conditions in the city center.

Sogong-ro is a major downtown arterial road connecting Seoul Plaza and the Bank of Korea. It has operated as a five-lane reversible road, allowing one lane to switch direction depending on traffic volume, though that reversible operation has already been suspended. Currently, three lanes run from Seoul Plaza toward the Bank of Korea, while two run in the opposite direction.

The road has long drawn complaints from pedestrians, as its sidewalks are too narrow for the volume of foot traffic. The narrowest stretch — on the Seoul Plaza side near Joseon Hotel — measures just 0.7 meters wide.

Along the stretch between Joseon Hotel intersection and the Bank of Korea intersection, some lane widths fall to just 2.8 meters because of the reversible lane configuration, short of the 3.0-meter minimum required under the Road Structure and Facility Standards Act. Officials said improvements were urgently needed to ensure traffic safety.

In response, the city will reduce Sogong-ro from five lanes to four and widen all lanes to at least 3.0 meters. It also plans to expand sidewalks throughout the corridor to enhance pedestrian safety — most notably widening the narrowest section from 0.7 meters to 2.7 meters — creating a safer and more comfortable walking environment for residents.

The final step in decommissioning the reversible lane — removing three variable signal lights — is scheduled from 10 p.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday. All lanes on the stretch between Joseon Hotel intersection and the Bank of Korea will be closed during that period.

To minimize inconvenience during the eight-hour closure, the city plans to notify drivers in advance of the restricted section and available detour routes through variable message signs, bus information terminals, the Seoul Transport Operation and Information Service, the 120 Dasan Call Center and navigation apps.

Meanwhile, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has been pursuing a broader overhaul of downtown road space to improve pedestrian safety following the wrong-way driving accident at City Hall Station.

In March, the city reduced the number of lanes on Sejongdaero 18-gil, expanded sidewalks along the entire stretch and completed installation of vehicle barriers. In April, it removed a traffic island near Exit 8 of City Hall Station, which had become dangerously congested during morning and evening rush hours and at lunchtime. Widening the existing sidewalk and the crosswalk waiting area eliminated safety hazards caused by pedestrian overcrowding.

"We will push ahead with construction without delay to build a road environment where both pedestrians and drivers can travel safely and conveniently — through sidewalk expansion, installation of pedestrian safety facilities and lane-width improvements — and to create a downtown walking environment that residents can truly feel is pleasant to walk through," said Im Chun-geun, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Urban Infrastructure Headquarters.