Banpo Bridge
반포대교
Banpo daegyo | |
|---|---|
A Moonlight Rainbow Fountain light show at the bridge (2008)
| |
| Coordinates | 37°30′56″N 126°59′46″E / 37.5155°N 126.9960°E / 37.5155; 126.9960 |
| Crosses | Han River |
| Locale | Seoul, South Korea |
| Maintained by | Seoul Metropolitan Hangang Project Headquarters |
| Preceded by | Hannam Bridge |
| Followed by | Dongjak Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 1,495 m (4,905 ft)[1] |
| Width | 25 m (82 ft)[1] |
| History | |
| Engineering design by | Dae Han Consultants Company, Ltd. |
| Constructed by | Byucksan Engineering & Construction Company, Ltd.[2] |
| Construction start | January 11, 1980[2] |
| Construction end | June 25, 1982[2] |
| Construction cost | ₩21,500,000,000[2] |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 103,925 (2009)[3] |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 반포대교 |
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | Banpo daegyo |
| McCune–Reischauer | Panp'o taegyo |
| Location | |
 | |
The Banpo Bridge (Korean: 반포대교) is a major bridge for vehicular traffic over the Han River in central Seoul, South Korea. It is a double-decked bridge, and is above the pedestrian Jamsu Bridge.[4]
The bridge is a popular tourist attraction, and is known for its daily Moonlight Rainbow Fountain and light shows in the evenings around summertime. As of 2024[update], the bridge holds the Guinness World Record for longest fountain bridge in the world.[5] It is centrally located in Seoul, and accessible via public transportation.
The bridge is situated over the Han River, and connects Seobinggo-donginYongsan District with Banpo-donginSeocho District.[6] It is 25 m (82 ft) wide and 1,495 m (4,905 ft) long.[1][6]
The bridge is intended for vehicular traffic. It is the first double deck bridge built in South Korea.[4]
It is a major landmark and attracts locals and tourists.[7]
The bridge has a fountain of its east side called Moonlight Rainbow Fountain. It was installed in September 2008. The bridge is programmed to release coordinated streams of water. It also has projectors that can display images on the water, as well as 10,000 LED lights. It can release 190 tons of water per minute, up to a distance of 43 meters horizontally. The bridge has 38 water pumps and 380 nozzles on either side.[8] The fountain show is every night from April to October and usually lasts for 10 to 15 minutes.[4]
The bridge holds the Guinness World Record for being the longest fountain bridge in the world.[5]
Beneath Banpo Bridge is Jamsu Bridge. Jamsu Bridge is intended for pedestrian usage. It often hosts cultural events such as a yearly fall market with live music and food trucks.[citation needed] During periods of high rainfall, the Jamsu Bridge is designed to submerge as the water level of the river rises, as the lower deck lies close to the waterline.[9]
The lower Jamsu Bridge was completed in 1979, before Banpo Bridge.[6] Banpo Bridge began construction on August 11, 1980 and was completed on November 1982.[10] It cost W22 billion to build (US$20 million).[citation needed] Its construction was intended to reduce traffic load on the Hangang Bridge.[6]
The bridge went under repairs from December 30, 1994 to June 30, 1996.[4]
Media related to Banpo Bridge at Wikimedia Commons
