No more cars after 50 years: Seoul bids farewell to Jamsu Bridge with nostalgia and traffic worries

What happened

Jamsu Bridge, opened in 1976 and the first Han River crossing to flood in heavy rain, has been closed to vehicles since 0:00 on October 26. Two of its four lanes were already handed to cyclists and pedestrians in 2008; now the rest follows. By August 2027 the city plans to widen the deck and add 22 viewing points and two glass-floor sections looking down on the river. Pedestrians and cyclists can keep using the bridge for most of the construction period.

Bus routes 405 and 740 now run in both directions over Banpo Bridge above, and two stops at the southern end have been closed. The city expects little extra congestion, since Jamsu Bridge recently carried only about one-fifth as many vehicles as other Han River bridges. Police reported no unusual congestion on the first morning.

It was not entirely smooth, though: according to Hankook Ilbo, roughly one car in ten drove up to the barrier unaware and had to turn back. At the fork towards Banpo Bridge, some drivers were confused and asked for more signs.

The mood on the ground

On the first morning the bridge belonged mostly to joggers, cyclists and walkers, with a river breeze instead of engine noise. One jogger said the line between road and footpath used to be unclear and running now feels more comfortable. An older man welcomed the bridge being returned to citizens and saw a chance for tourism.

Among commuters, worry prevailed. A student left home ten minutes early because her bus had been rerouted. Others fear that traffic around the Express Bus Terminal, already heavy, will get worse. One driver told SBS he was delayed more than five minutes near a hospital and called for adjusted traffic lights. A senior urged good safety measures as foot traffic grows, since the stretch is prone to flooding.

The night before the closure became a farewell ritual. Dozens of motorcycles and sports cars crossed one last time, drivers waving to each other. On social media, the hashtag "Jamryesik", a pun on the Korean word for funeral, spread. Many recalled crossing as children in their parents' car.

Not everyone shared the nostalgia: residents told Financial News about noise and sleepless hours, and police received numerous complaints. Online, some called for stricter noise rules, while others found the wish for a last ride understandable.

Voices from the media