The Korea National Railway Authority's Honam Headquarters announced Wednesday that it will launch a full-scale upgrade of the Manggyeong River Bridge No. 2, located between Iksan and Buyong on the Honam Line.
The project aims to convert the aging parallel single-track bridge, originally built during the Japanese colonial period, into a double-track structure. The upgrade is designed to enhance train operation safety and establish a stable transportation system for key sections of the Honam Line.
The downbound line of the Manggyeong River Bridge No. 2 was built in November 1936, while the upbound line was constructed in December 1982.
The railway authority will invest a total of 105 billion won ($77 million) to carry out the work across a 2,141-meter section, including the construction of new roadbeds and tracks and the demolition of the existing bridge in phases. The project is scheduled for completion in June 2031.
The upgrade is expected to preemptively eliminate safety risks associated with the aging bridge structure and secure a foundation for double-track operations, improving train crossing efficiency while also strengthening maintenance stability.
The project is also expected to improve train punctuality and transportation efficiency, enhancing convenience for Honam Line passengers and contributing to stronger regional rail logistics competitiveness.
"We will complete this upgrade to double-track operations on schedule to create a safe and stable railway operating environment," said Jung Ki-yeon, head of the Korea National Railway Authority's Honam Headquarters. "We will build railway infrastructure that the public can trust even more."
