Guro-gu urges land ministry to relocate GTX-B vents

Guro-gu has asked the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to actively review a set of local rail issues. These include adjusting the planned locations of ventilation shafts for the GTX-B line near Gocheok Sky Dome and in the Oryu-dong area. They also include speeding up the Singuro Line project and relocating the Guro rail depot.

District Mayor Jang In-hong met with Kim Tae-byung, head of the Land Ministry's railway bureau, at the district mayor's office Wednesday. He conveyed residents' concerns over the GTX-B ventilation shaft installations and requested alternative plans.

Under the current plan, vent No. 12 along the GTX-B route through Guro-gu is set to be installed at a futsal field near Gocheok Sky Dome. Residents have raised concerns over its impact on the educational and living environment, pedestrian safety and noise, and are demanding the location be changed.

In response, the district asked the ministry to reconsider the vent's placement within the futsal field. It cited the high foot traffic around Gocheok Sky Dome and the impact on residents' daily lives. The district mayor stressed that there had not been sufficient consultation with the community when the vent location was decided. He said residents' opinions must be fully reflected in any alternative plan and that the ministry should actively engage with residents going forward.

The district also called for an alternative for vent No. 11, planned near Oryu-dong Station, that would minimize its impact on residents. Given the presence of nearby residential facilities and daycare centers, the district said residents' concerns over construction and facility operations must be fully taken into account.

In particular, the district requested that the ministry consider a green space near the Oryu interchange as an alternative site. It also asked the ministry to review consolidating the vent near Gocheok Sky Dome with the one near Oryu-dong Station.

Since March, the district has been requesting that the Land Ministry, the Korea National Railway, GTX-B Co. and contractor Daebo Construction come up with measures. These measures are aimed at addressing residents' concerns.

The district also conveyed its views on other major local rail issues. These include the swift advancement of the Singuro Line to improve transportation conditions in the southwestern Greater Seoul area and the relocation of the Guro rail depot.

"We fully understand the necessity of the GTX-B project," District Mayor Jang In-hong said. "However, given how serious residents' concerns are, we ask that possible alternatives for the ventilation shafts be carefully reviewed once again, and that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport communicate directly with residents to work out a solution."