For decades, Seoul had a major elevated highway passing east-west through the central city where a river once ran. It was viewed as progress in the burgeoning capital city, but plans were put into place to remove it in the early 2000s. The highway removal has repeatedly been a source of inspiration for similar urban removals, showing how a highway removal project can deliver urban and ecological renewal. The highway removal led to daylighting a stream and turning the vast space into a linear, diverse park.
Over past two decades, removal of the highway has led to substantially positive environment and public health outcomes, increased business activity along the corridor, redevelopment, and improving traffic flow. Jason Slaughter of Not Just Bikes showcases what Cheonggyecheon is like today, including newer improvements in recent years, and discusses the pros and cons of Seoul’s approach.
Stephen is a professional urban planner in Puget Sound with a passion for sustainable, livable, and diverse cities. He is especially interested in how policies, regulations, and programs can promote positive outcomes for communities. With stints in great cities like Bellingham and Cork, Stephen currently lives in Seattle. He primarily covers land use and transportation issues and has been with The Urbanist since 2014.