may have its own version of an old industrial infrastructure－turned－pedestrian friendly

gardens in the sky. It’s not an especially new concept， but

it’s one that’s proven hugely effective at revitalizing neighborhoods... which is

why Seoul， along with cities like London and Houston are jumping in this trend of building

a Greenway from an old， elevated road. Greenway in the Seoul sky： our News Feature

tonight with Lee Soo－eun. ″Clocks have just struck midnight and the

Seoul Station overpass is now shut cars can no longer use the road.

After 45 years in use， the overpass will gradually be transformed into a park for pedestrians.″

Since its construction in 1970， the 9－hundred 14 meter long overpass in front of Seoul Station

has been a shortcut connecting four districts in central Seoul.

But in 2006， the Seoul Station flyover received a failing grade of ′D′ on a safety test，

prompting the Seoul Metropolitan Government to decide it would be best to demolish the

road for the sake of safety and urban aesthetics. Then earlier this year in May， the city

announced it will scrap demolition plans and instead remodel the road under the code name

″Seoul Station 7017 Project″. The 17 meter high flyover which had served

the city′s residents since 1970， will be transformed into a zone exclusive for pedestrians

with 17 adjacent walkways... by 2017.

″If the city remodels the motorway， instead of demolishing it， it will allow people

to move around， and perhaps turn it into an urban attraction. Recycling the structure

is also more cost－effective than building a new one.″

New York City′s High Line Park is one instance of reusing an old urban structure.

Once an abandoned railway， it was reborn into a park with flowers， trees， and benches.

The urban regeneration project worked to prevent the city′s deterioration.

″There isn′t much green space near Seoul Station， so we thought that if the overpass

was converted into a park， people could enjoy it as a central urban attraction.″

The city offered residents a chance to experience what the new green space would actually look

and feel like by creating a temporary park on the road last May.

″It′d be great if a park was made since the flyover failed the safety test anyways.

The city would look much better.″

″Taxis need to move quickly. If we have to take a detour instead of the overpass，

then obviously， it′s not good for us taxi drivers.

Another group of stakeholders not so happy with the project are those working at Namdaemun

Market who have long used the motorway as an essential part of their lives... coming

to work and making deliveries on this road.

″Merchants need convenient traffic and distribution. We′re against making a park on the Seoul

Station flyover if no alternative road is to be built.″

As opponents of the project predicted， roads

we