Waterway to Double as Canal and Floodwater Diversion

Gyeongin Ara Waterway is shaping up as a multipurpose, practical attraction

Historical records shows that a first attempt by Choi I, a son of the then de facto ruler Choi Chung-heon during King Go’s reign of the Goryeo Kingdom, to build a canal between Incheon and Seoul for the purpose of transporting grain, ended in failure due to a lack of technology and other reasons. Approximately 800 years later, an 18 km-long canal linking the West Sea in Incheon and the Han River in Gimpo is shaping up as a brand-new idea of doubling as a waterway to divert water to prevent flood damage and a canal to transport cargo.












Giving the details of the historical background or necessity of the project, Chung Jin-woong, chief of the Ara Waterway Division at the Korea Water Resources Corp. (K-water), said, “Attempts to build a canal for the purpose of transporting grain had been made on several occasions since about 800 years ago during King Go’s reign of the Goryeo Kingdom, but they ended up in failure apparently due to a lack of technology, state financial constraints and internal and external uncertainties.”
Chung said, “The projected waterway will be available not just as a way to divert flood water from the low-lying Gulpocheon Stream area into the West Sea instead of the Han River for just 15 days a year, but also as a canal for transporting cargo ships plying the West Sea and the Han River for the remaining 350 days.” The latest remake calls for the digging of a four-km long canal extension to the existing flood waterway, he said.
As recently as 1991, the canal scheme initially began as a nationally-financed project to build a waterway to divert water in the Gulpocheon area to the West Sea in case of flooding following the fatal inundation of the stream in July 1987. The Gulpocheon area suffered setbacks with dreadful foods: downpours left 3,767 hectares under water, 16 people dead, 5,427 others homeless and caused 42 billion won in property damages in the stream area in 1987 alone, while floods inundated 1,194 houses, left 2,539 people homeless and caused 11.2 billion won in property damages during 1998 and 1999.
The project for a waterway against flooding has evolved into a private investment project, dubbed “Gyeongin (Seoul-Incheon) Ara Waterway Project,” is designed to remake the flood waterway an environmentally-friendly one, which simultaneously will allow it to serve as a cargo passage on normal days.
The remaking process picked up speed as feasibility studies by such institutions as DHV and Korea Development Institute concluded the flood waterway-cum-canal is viable. Neighborhood representatives, related local autonomous bodies and lawmakers approved the Gyeongin Ara Waterway Project and called for its swift execution.
“The flood waterway has become a subject of headache: a too high price tag just for the purpose of controlling floods during 15 days of flooding and inherent environmental problems, so the Gyeongin Ara Waterway Project has been launched for the cause of controlling floods during summer and transporting cargo for saving logistics costs during other seasons of the year,” Chung said.
The execution type of the project shifted from a private investment method to a public organization-oriented one - at the hands of K-water - on Dec. 11, 2008 at a national policy deliberation committee meeting presided over by the prime minister.
The features of the project call for making an 18 km-long transportation waterway with a width of 80 meters and a depth of 6.3 meters linking Gyeongseo-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon, off the West Sea, and Gaehwa-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, along the Han River, including a 14.2 km-long flood waterway. The project will be completed by 2011 at a cost of 2.25 trillion won. A 2.84 million square meter terminal with three locks, devices for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on the projected canal waterway, will be built in Incheon along with another one, a 1.91 million square meter terminal with one lock in Gimpo, in a move to allow the plying of river-sea ships with a capacity of 250TEU. The projected Incheon Terminal will have three container berths with a combined capacity of 10,000 DWT, a steel berth with a capacity of 7,500 DWT, five berths for anchoring 3,000 square meter hopper barges, a berth for loading and unloading 1,000 automobile units and two berths for handling 500 people per day, while the Gimpo Terminal will have two container berths with a capacity of 4,000 DWT, four berths for handling 2,250 square meter sea-river sand ships, and five berths for handling 1,000 passengers daily.
The first section of the project - the construction of the projected Incheon Terminal is handled by Hyundai Engineering & Construction (Kwon Hyon-jik, chief of the Project Section 1 site). The second section of the project on the construction of the three lock gates of the Incheon Gate is being done by Samsung Engineering and Construction Co. (Nam Ki-du, chief of the Section 2 Site). GS Engineering and Construction Co. (Oh Jin-man, head of the Section 3 Site) is charged with the work of the third section - the construction of the replacements of the existing bridges - the Hwangyeong Bridge, the Sacheon Bridge and their intersections while Dongbu E&C (Kim Sung-gyum chief of the Section 4 Site) is undertaking the fourth section of the project - the construction of the replacements of the existing bridges - the Danam Bridge and the Gyulhyeon Bridge- and their intersections. Hyundai Development Co. (Yang Man-bae, chief of the Section 5 Site) is working on the fifth section of the project - the construction of a new canal section and the construction of bridges - the Sangah Bridge, the Sewerage Transportation Bridge and the Jeonho Bridge, while SK E&C (Kwon Sun-chul, chief of the Section 6 Site Office) is charged with the sixth section of the project - the construction of the Gimpo Terminal with 11 berths - two for container cargo, four for anchoring hopper barges, and five for passengers - and a lock gate.
Industry and government officials said the projected canal is expected not only to share the logistics burden of Incheon Port, but also to ease traffic congestion in inland areas by partially absorbing cargo volumes using the Geyongbu (Seoul-Busan) Expressway. Via the canal, 250 container truckloads will be transported at one time. It promises to be environmentally-friendly and contribute to promoting low-carbon, green growth. Figures released by U.S. transportation authorities showed that a canal is 2.5 times more energy efficient than railroad transport and 8.7 times as efficient as road delivery. Railway and road transportation emitted CO2 emissions 1.4 times and 4.9 times, respectively, compared with canal transportation, according to German federal waterway authorities.
The project will have such diverse synergetic effects as culture, tourism and leisure on top of sea-river routes.
From the cultural aspect, situated at a gateway from Incheon International Airport to Seoul, the Gyeongin Ara Waterway will transform Songdo, Cheongna and Geomam into its neighboring areas’ centers.
From the tourism and leisure aspect, the canal will be developed as an international tourism and logistics center of the Seoul metropolitan area in connection with the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s scheme, dubbed the “Renaissance of the Han River,” which calls for the operation of international passenger ships directly linking China and Yeouido.
The project will have production spill-over effects valued at about 3 trillion won and have the effect of creating 25,000 jobs, invigorating the regional economy.
The following are excerpts of an interview between NewsWorld and Chung Jin-woong, the chief of the Gyeongin Ara Waterway Division, who gave specifics on the process of the project.








Question: What’s the historical necessity of the Gyeongin Ara Waterway?
Answer: Attempts to build a canal for the purpose of transporting grain had been made on several occasions since about 800 years ago during King Go’s reign of the Goryeo Kingdom, but they ended up in failure apparently due to a lack of technology, state financial constraints and internal and external uncertainties.
Now we’re putting our heart and soul into constructing the Gyeongin Ara Waterway. It will surely be one of the prides of both Seoul and Incheon along with the Gyeongin Railway, the nation’s first railroad built 110 years ago in 1899 and the Gyeongin Expressway built in 1967.
Q: Why is it essential at the present day?
A: The projected waterway has two functions ― a waterway to divert water to prevent flood damage during the summer and a shipping channel for navigating ships for reducing logistics costs in normal times, on top of creating a beautiful hydrophilic space.
In an effort to prevent flood damages, the projected canal would allow water of the Gulpocheon Stream to change its original course toward the Han River directly into the West Sea, thus protecting human lives and properties in Incheon, Bucheon, the Gangseo area in Seoul and the Gimpo district in Gyeonggi Province for 15 days each summer.
In normal times ― for 350 days ― the projected canal would be used for transportation in coastal areas to relieve traffic congestion in inland districts, thus raising the competitive edge through savings in transportation costs.
Q: Will you tell our readers about your division’s efforts to collaborate with civic bodies to collect public opinions and activities to raise public awareness toward the project?
A: So far, residents around the affected construction sites have formed and operated regional consultation committees on a voluntary basis.
Currently, such stakeholders as residents, the government, local administrative bodies and K-Water have formed the Gyeongin Ara Waterway Development Consultation Committee designed to facilitate exchanges of views from the relevant areas about residents’ suggestions, matters related to the inheritance of tradition and historical preservation, and the execution of environmentally-friendly projects and to promote cooperative ties.
In a bid to help the general public get a better understanding of the project, residents and K-water operate their own respective websites while conducting social contribution activities, including assisting in offering free meals at elderly welfare halls and subsidizing meal charges and giving a helping hand to the underprivileged.
Q: What benefits will the project bring about?
A: The project will have multipurpose features ― logistics, tourism and culture.
It will have fundamental functions ― preventing flood damage and serving as a shipping channel for logistics transportation. The projected canal will have a network of in-line skate and bicycle pathways and marina facilities connecting the Han River and the West Sea, thus creating diverse tourism and leisure and cultural activities and improving the quality of residents’ lives.
Situated at a gateway from Incheon International Airport to Seoul, the Gyeongin Ara Waterway will transform Songdo, Cheongna and Geomam into its neighboring areas’ centers. Besides, the project will have synergetic effects when Incheon hosts the 2014 Asian Games.
We’re joining forces in transforming the Gyeongin Ara Waterway into a cool model like the Rhine River, the Danube River and the Seine River in Europe, the Tennessee River in the United States, and the Volga River in Russia.
Q: Will you introduce the top eight waterfront town attractions?
A: Waterfront attractions dubbed “suhyang” refer to cities or villages being built in such beautiful areas as ponds and streams.
Making the best use of access and local features of the canal’s neighborhood areas, we have established strategies on developing the Han River and the West Sea; bicycle pathways and walking networks and water leisure/sports networks and landscape overhaul. We’ve determined the direction of the top eight waterfront attractions, or “suhyang palgyeong.”
The envisioned suhyang palgyeong include a theme park on experiences on sea routes; a version of Waterfront in the United States, a riverside park; a traditional Korean park; an ecological park; and a marina and other water leisure/sport facilities. nw

Contractors Focus on ‘Highest Quality on Time’

Approximately 200 to 300 construction operators are removing earth with such heavy equipment as excavators and dump trucks under a two-shift system at one of the six sections of the projected Gyeongin Ara Waterway, now under construction. The crews are now working on the construction of the northern and southern quays of the Incheon Terminal, the first section of the first canal project in Korea.
Kown Heon-jik, project manager of Gyeongin Ara Waterway Project Section 1, said, “We’re doing our utmost efforts in building the Gyeongin Ara Waterway under the catchphrase ‘Highest Quality on Time.’ We’re racing against the clock as the goal of completing the canal project by December 2011 has been advanced to October 2011, so we’re putting our heart and soul into meeting the deadline by making the most of as many new engineering technologies as possible.”
The canal project calls for making an 18 km-long transportation waterway with a width of 80 meters and a depth of 6.3 meters linking Gyeongseo-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon, off the West Sea and Gaehwa-dong along the Han River.
As a big brother in the domestic construction field, the Hyundai Engineering & Construction (HDEC) is charged with the first section of the project ―the design, construction and trial run of the whole Incheon Terminal. It is the biggest section and the most difficult part in Gyeongin Ara Waterway project composed of 6 sections. The terminal will have a total of 12 berths: three berths for container cargo, one for steel cargo, five berths for anchoring hopper barges, one for loading and unloading automobile units and two for passengers, at a cost of 328.9 billion won. There will be constructed more than 20 buildings with all related facility for operation and maintenance of ports, waterway and the navigation channels. For the overall control of ports and waterway, Incheon terminal will be fitted with such latest equipment as automatic navigation control system, Global Positioning Service (GPS), vessel traffic system (VTS) and so forth.
The second section of the project on the construction of the two lock gates of the Incheon Gate is being done by Samsung C&T Corporation at a cost of 176.6 billion won. GS E&C is responsible for the third section, which calls for the construction of the replacements of the existing bridges - Hwangyeong and Sicheon bridges - and their intersections at a price tag of 173.8 billion won. Dongbu E&C is undertaking the fourth section of the project, which involves the construction of the replacements of the existing ones - Danam and Gyulhyeon bridges- and their intersections. Hyundai Development E&C is working on the fifth section of the project, which is the construction of a new canal section and the construction of the Sangah, Sewerage Transportation and the Jeonho bridges at a cost of 152.3 billion won. And SK E&C is charged with the sixth section of the project, which is the construction of the Gimpo Terminal with 11 berths ―two for container cargo, four for anchoring hopper barges and five for passengers ―and a lock gate for the Han River at a cost of 267 billion won.
Mr. Kwon said the project began this past July, and with the current progress of the total project showing 9.8 percent as scheduled, half of the work will be done by next year with a focus on constructing berths and HDEC would take a leading role in successful completion with highest quality of the first canal project. A special task force from HDEC headquarters is providing support to make sure the deadline, highest quality and safety. And a safety team and a night watch team from commissioned companies are in place in order to ensure accident-free construction.
In Autumn 2011, the contractors’ effort and sweat will result in a brand-new logistic route, which can save the carbon energy and transportation cost, and afford waterfront and leisure space to local residents and tourists. nw

Making Long-dreamed Project a Reality

Hyundai Development Co. is working on the fifth section of the Gyeongin (Seoul-Incheon) Ara Waterway Project ―the construction of a new canal section, the Sangah Bridge, the Sewerage Transportation Bridge and the Jeonho Bridge.
Hyundai Development’s initial work is concentrated on excavating the earth for the construction of the new canal section. A crew of 30 to 50 workers from Hyundai Development is now digging 1.5 km for a shipping route in the Gimpo area with a depth of 6.3 meters and a width of 80 meters.
The project, which Hyundai Development landed on a turn-key basis at a price tag of 152.3 billion won, also calls for the construction of three bridges using the Free Cantilever Method (FCM), a popular engineering method with a high degree of difficulty. Each projected bridge will have an observation platform from which visitors can look at the surrounding landscapes and they will also be fitted with nighttime lights to give a charming view to cruise passengers and passers-by.
Hyundai Development is also building roads for exclusive use by automobiles, as well as bicycle paths and resting spots for neighborhood residents.
Yang Man-dae, project manager of the Hyundai Development Co. Gyeongin Ara Waterway Project Section Five, said, “We’re pressed for completing the long-cherished project on time with a focus on thorough environment management.”
“We’re striving to meet residents’ high expectations for us, as Hyundai Development is carrying out the construction of neighborhood residents’ resting spots as green tracts of land serving as the lungs of the surrounding area,” Yang said.
The project is designed to serve as a waterway not only to divert water into the East Sea instead of the Han River to prevent flood damages in the case of downpours, but also to transport cargo in order to save on logistics costs, higher than 7 to 8 percent for Japan and 8 percent for the United States.
Hyundai Development workers with vast experience and expertise are carrying out the execution of the project under a two-shift system with a focus on ensuring accident-free construction work like those of other contractors participating in the canal project, he said.
Yang said he is proud of having seen something complete out of nothing at the time of the dedication, saying that he now envisages such wonderful creations as bridges, bicycle paths and resting spots along the projected canal. nw

CHRONOLOGY OF MEGA-PROJECTS IN INCHEON AREA: (photo from left) the Gyeongin (Seoul-Incheon) Railroad, Korea’s first railway that opened in 1899,; the Gyeongin Expressway that was opened to traffic in 1967,; and the Gyeongin Ara Waterway, scheduled to be inaugurated in 2011.

An artist’s conception of the planned Gyeongin Ara Waterway and its map (inset)

Chung Jin-woong, chief of the Ara Waterway Division at the Korea Water Resources Corp., displays the progress of the projected canal linking the West Sea and Han River at his office.

Major features of the Gyeongin Ara Waterway, including (counterclockwise) a road along an embankment south of the canal linking the West Sea and the Han River,; sea-river ships plying along the canal,; Gimpo Terminal with Han River Lock Gate (inset),; and an environmentally-friendly park.

The canal project will have such diverse synergetic effects as culture, tourism and leisure on top of sea-river routes.

Incheon Terminal, a gateway to the canal stretching to the Han river. (below) Heavy equipment and trucks are mobilized to excavate the ground around the clock as contractors are pressed against the deadline.