Incheon Metropolitan City is accelerating efforts to prevent further delays in the Seoul Metro Line 7 Cheongna International City extension project, drawing up a comprehensive plan centered on shortening the construction timeline and securing rolling stock.
The city said Tuesday it has been operating a task force and a public-private-government consultative body since July to monitor progress across construction, rolling stock, fiscal and administrative affairs, and transportation planning. It is working with relevant agencies and local lawmakers to find solutions on multiple fronts.
To shorten the construction schedule, the city is already applying a range of measures on site, including simultaneous architectural and systems work, extended hours for electrical construction, a change in backfill materials for the third construction zone, and permission for blasting on public holidays.
Alongside this, the city is examining the feasibility of additional options that carry persistent noise and safety concerns, such as nighttime blasting and non-stop passage through stations.
To resolve the rolling stock shortage, the city has settled on a practical alternative to ordering new trains: receiving up to eight retired train sets and at least three operational sets from Seoul Metro and putting them into service. Consultations with the relevant agencies are underway.
Once the vehicles are secured, the city plans to carry out modifications and safety inspections before adjusting the schedule for comprehensive railway test operations.
The city is also pursuing expanded public transit connections to ease inconvenience for residents during the delay, including adding city bus routes, launching new metropolitan express bus (M-bus) services, and operating temporary bus rapid transit lines.
gilbert@heraldcorp.com
