| Seongsu Bridge | |
| Location: | Han River, Seoul, South Korea |
| Also Known As: | Sŏngsu Bridge |
| Maintained: | Seoul Metropolitan Government |
| Lanes: | 8 (formerly 4) |
| Builder: |
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| Built: | April 9, 1977-October 15, 1979 |
| Cost: | |
| Collapsed: | 7:38 a.m. Korea Standard Time on October 21, 1994 |
| Rebuilt: | April 26, 1995 - July 3, 1997 |
The Seongsu Bridge, sometimes spelled Sŏngsu Bridge, is a cantilever bridge over the Han River, connecting the Seongdong and Gangnam districts of Seoul, South Korea. The bridge began construction under Hyundai Engineering & Construction on April 26, 1995 and was opened to the public on July 3, 1997 by Seoul Mayor Cho Soon .[1] The original Seongsu Bridge was built in 1979, and was demolished and rebuilt following the Seongsu Bridge disaster on October 21, 1994.
See main article: Seongsu Bridge disaster. The original Seongsu Bridge was built by Dong Ah Construction Industrial Company, opening to the public on October 15, 1979.[2] [1] The bridge spanned 1160m (3,810feet) and was 19.4m (63.6feet) wide, accommodating 4 lanes of traffic.[3] Fifteen years later, on the morning of October 21, 1994, a span of the Seongsu Bridge collapsed, killing 32 people and injuring 17 others. The collapse was ruled a result of poor welding, rusted extension hinges, and lack of general maintenance— and would result in the convictions of 16 city government and construction workers on charges of criminal negligence.[4]
In the aftermath of the disaster, the Seoul Metropolitan Government originally planned to repair and reopen the bridge to traffic within three months, but reversed course after public outcry.[5]
Construction for the new bridge began in March 1996 under Hyundai Engineering & Construction. Construction for the replacement bridge cost 78 billion won (equivalent to ₩ billion in), about 6.8 times the original price.[6] The new bridge was opened to the public on July 3, 1997, by Mayor Cho Soon, and a memorial was held on the bridge.[7]