Seoul to Turn Jamsu Bridge Into Pedestrian-Only Han River Crossing
Vehicle traffic on Seoul’s Jamsu Bridge will end on October 26 as the city begins work to create its first pedestrian-only bridge across the Han River, with completion scheduled for August 2027.
Seoul will permanently close Jamsu Bridge to vehicles later this month and transform the low-level Han River crossing into the city’s first pedestrian-only bridge, according to the municipal government.
Vehicle access will be fully restricted from October 26, ahead of construction scheduled to finish in August 2027. The project will widen the pedestrian deck, repave the bridge and prepare new spaces for cultural events and festivals.
Pedestrians and cyclists will continue to have access while the work is under way. Seoul officials said construction zones will be separated from paths used by people walking or riding bicycles, allowing nonmotorized travel to continue during the project.
Jamsu Bridge forms the lower level of the double-decker Banpo Bridge and sits closer to the Han River than other crossings in the capital. Its low elevation gives visitors close views of the water, the surrounding landscape and the Moonlight Rainbow Fountain installed on the upper Banpo Bridge. The structure is also designed to be submerged when the river rises significantly.
Opened in 1976, the bridge has long connected the northern and southern banks of the river. Two of its four traffic lanes were converted into space for pedestrians and cyclists in 2008, reducing the roadway while expanding public access. More recently, the bridge has served as a venue for events including the Car-free Jamsu Bridge Festival.
The planned conversion will build on that role by making the crossing a permanent public space rather than a road that is periodically closed for events. The city plans to add 22 river-viewing points along the bridge. Transparent deck sections will also be installed above two navigation channels, giving visitors a view of the water below as vessels pass through.
The project marks a significant change in how one of Seoul’s best-known river structures will be used. Instead of carrying cars beneath Banpo Bridge, Jamsu Bridge will be dedicated to walking, cycling, river viewing and public cultural programs.
The city said the bridge’s distinctive position near the water makes it well suited to a space combining access to nature with cultural activity. Once completed, the redesigned crossing is expected to provide a continuous pedestrian route across the Han River while retaining the bridge’s existing function for cyclists.