Residents of Biryu village raise concerns over noise and vibration; contractor pledges weekly building measurements and compensation for damages
Substation site survey gains urgency ahead of March 2027 implementation plan approval
Yeonsu-gu in Incheon has stepped in to mediate between residents and project stakeholders after concerns emerged over a planned substation near the GTX-B line's Cheonghak Station.
The district now faces the challenge of crafting effective measures to minimize construction-related disruptions to residents' daily lives while keeping the Cheonghak Station development and substation site survey on schedule.
Yeonsu-gu held a meeting Wednesday at the district office, with about 20 participants including representatives of Biryu village, the Cheonghak Station Promotion Committee, Incheon city officials and members of the GTX-B construction consortium, to discuss construction damage prevention and the substation site selection.
The meeting was convened to address residents' concerns about noise, vibration and building safety during the GTX-B ventilation shaft construction, and to narrow the gap between the parties over how the project should proceed.
Residents of Biryu village raised concerns about potential disruptions to daily life and structural damage to buildings, calling for concrete safety measures.
In response, the construction consortium said it would measure building conditions at least once a week to monitor safety, and would compensate residents through construction insurance procedures if actual damage occurred.
The consortium also said it would review changes to construction methods to reflect residents' demands, and would pursue support measures to improve the environment around the construction site.
However, whether regular measurements and after-the-fact compensation will be enough to ease residents' anxiety will depend on how clearly the consortium lays out its safety management and damage prevention plans before and during construction — making the specifics of its implementation plan the key factor going forward.
The district said it would push for the GTX-B project to proceed without delay while also protecting residents, noting that the GTX-B line and the new Cheonghak Station are critical projects for improving transport access in Yeonsu-gu's older urban core and supporting balanced regional development.
In particular, the district said preliminary steps — including park occupancy permits needed to conduct the substation site survey — are tied to the project schedule and can no longer be delayed.
Taking into account the implementation plan approval scheduled for March 2027, the district said it would proceed with the survey while calling on Incheon city and the construction consortium to develop practical measures to minimize harm to residents.
"The GTX-B project and the new Cheonghak Station are essential for the future of Yeonsu-gu, but they cannot move forward while ignoring residents' hardship," Yeonsu-gu District Mayor Lee Jae-ho said, urging the relevant agencies to maintain ongoing communication and develop substantive measures.
Regarding the park occupancy permit needed for the substation site survey, Lee said, "Given the overall schedule, including the March 2027 implementation plan approval, this is a situation where we can no longer afford to wait," and asked for residents' understanding.
gilbert@heraldcorp.com
