CUE: River Restoration

Question 1

What are the aims of restoring a river?

Answer 1

• To improve the quality and function of rivers.
• To restore the river so it can support healthy and thriving ecosystem.
  Large or small scale - e.g. an entire flood plain where buildings are removed or a small section of river where hard engineering could be removed/replaced with natural features.
• Can work in conjunction with SUDS.

Question 2

What are some of the benefits of river restoration?

Answer 2

• Reduction in flood risk
• Improvements in the natural landscape
• Sustainable transport including footpaths and cycle ways
• Improvement in health and well-being of locals
• Biodiversity and wildlife/green space corridors
• Educational opportunities through visitor centres
• water quality and land drainage

Question 3

Where is the Cheonggyecheon river?

Answer 3

• South Korea, Seoul
• in the central area of the city - divides North and South
• one of the worlds largest in the city

Question 4

What’s some of Cs history?

Answer 4

• the Japanese colonial administration first began dredging the C stream in 1918, to cover it - as seen as a sanitation and flood risk. It was fully covered between 1958 and 1961 and a 4 lane overpass was built in 1971. This continued until 2003, when a 2 year, £281m scheme was launched to restore the river - 5.8km corridor.

Question 5

What were the aims of the project?

Answer 5

• to create both ecological and recreational opportunities along a 5.8km corridor in the centre of Seoul
• the Gov wanted to improve the productivity travelling from North and South side

Question 6

Why was the project put in place?

Answer 6

• the elevated freeway posed a lot of safety risks- the give wanted to improve connectivity between cities N and S side.
• the areas next to overpass housed over 100,000 small businesses - it had a serious impact on their competitiveness.
• the city of Seoul is in the process of changing from a development - orientated to one that values quality of life

Question 7

What were some of the features of the project?

Answer 7

• the freeway and concrete covering the stream was dismantled. 22 bridges (12 for pedestrians and 10 for cars).
• cars were discouraged, rapid bus lanes were added.
• water from nearby Hanang river is pumped to the area to create a consistent flow - runs to an ecological conservation area out of the city. Seating throughout
• environmentally friendly (waterfalls, etc.)

Question 8

Who are some of the supporters?

Answer 8

• South Korean president - Lee Myung Bak included the restoration in his bid to become major of Seoul in 2001.
• the C restoration Citizens Committee took responsibility for gauging public opinions. It communicated the projects goals and organised public info sessions.
• environmental groups

Question 9

What are some of the benefits of the project?

Answer 9

• encouraged a diversity of cultural programming - lively accessible venues
• the number of businesses near the restoration had risen.
  The stream has re established lots of habitats and plant/animal species - school children can learn about ecology.
• lifts provided
• speeds slows
• 2.5DC reduced

Question 10

What are some of the challenges of the project?

Answer 10

• property prices have risen at double the rates - in the area around it
• the design was non-inclusive. So in response, lifts provided etc - yet irregular surfaces are uncomfortable for people using wheelchairs and poorly-lit congested tunnels are difficult for people with visual impairments

Question 11

What was some opposition from the project?

Answer 11

• transportation experts were concerned that removing the highway would increase traffic congestion as it carried 169,000 vehicles a day.
• local businesses saw this as either an interruption or threat. To minimise inconvenience and stimulate business activity. The Seoul Metropolitan Authority

Question 12

What’s an overall evaluation of the project?

Answer 12

• since the restoration, C has become popular with residents and visitors alike for rest and relaxation. The stream has become a tourist attraction, drawing an estimated 18.1 million visitors by the end of 2008
• traffic slowed by 12.3% and there is more pedestrian activity. Air flows freely along the stream. A public survey showed respondents overwhelmingly noticed improvements in air and water quality, noise and smells
• yet the design did have some problems (e.g. can be seen as potentially non-inclusive)