The Hwaseong-Seoul portion of the Gyeongbu (Seoul-Busan) Expressway, Gyeongin (Seoul-Incheon) Expressway and the first ring expressway of the Seoul metropolitan area will have tunnels to ease severe congestion.
Expressways linking Yeongwol and Samcheok, Yeongdong and Jincheon, and Seongju and Daegu will be newly built.
These are contained in the second expressway construction plan between 2021 and 2025, which was finalized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) on May 28, through a road policy deliberation committee meeting.
The latest plan calls for designated projects based on four action tasks: balanced regional development, easing traffic congestion, supporting the logistics industry and preparation for inter-Korean cooperation with the goal of supporting economic growth and constructing pleasant and convenient expressways.
The plan calls for setting aside 55 trillion won in implementing 37 projects – 19 new expressway and 18 expansion projects.
Balanced Regional Development
In order to realize the 10 by 10 grid network, suggested in the second national road network master plan last September, the government will build balanced regional development infrastructure by improving expressway strategies in regions with insufficient transportation infrastructure.
In order to expand truck roads on east-west corridors, expressways linking Yeongwol-Samcheok, Muju and Seongju, and Seongju and Daegu, will be constructed.
A new expressway linking Yeongdong and Jincheon will be built to narrow the separation distance, standing at an average of 73 km, between the Jungbu Line and Jungbu Inland Line.
An expressway linking Wando and Gangjin is planned to make motorists from southern parts of Jeollanam-do such as Wado-gun, Haenam-gun and Gangjin-gun reachable to any expressway within half hour.
An artist conception of tunnels, to be built along the Hwaseong-Seoul section of the Gyeongbu (Seoul-Busan) Line.
Easing Traffic Congestion
The government decided to ease chronic traffic congestion by expanding road capacity and ramping up investments into radial ring networks in downtown sectors of major cities.
Some sections such as the Hwaseong-Seoul portion of the Gyeongbu Line, the Toegyewon-Pangyo section of the first ring line of the Seoul metropolitan area and the Incheon-Seoul portion of the Gyeongin Line will have tunnels to ease difficulties of expanding horizontal roads.
The government is considering securing bus-only lines on the existing surface roads and expanding public transportation services on expressways.
Eighteen portions with sever traffic congestion such as the Cheongseong-Dongi portion of the Gyeongbu Line and the Gimcheon-Nakdong section of the Jungbu Inland Line will be also expanded while an expressway linking Geumcheon and Hwasoon will be created as part of efforts to complete circular ring network in the Gwangju and Honam metropolitan areas.
Supporting the Logistics Industry
A section linking Gimhae and Miryang will be newly built to improve the approach to Busan New Port as part of the Busan New Port-Gimhae expressway. A section connecting Gimhae and New Port is planned to support logistics of Yeongil Bay Port.
A section linking Ochang and Goesan, a portion connecting Gumi and Gunwi and a section between Geoje and Tongyeong will be also built to facilitate the approach to Cheongju International Airport, an integrated new port in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk area and the Okpo national industrial complex, respectively.
Preparing for Inter-Korean Collaboration
The Seoul-Yeoncheon Expressway will not only facilitate the development of Yangju New City and accommodate traffic demand in the northern part of the Seoul metropolitan area, but also serve as foothold for inter-Korean collaboration.
The construction of the Pocheon-Cheorwon, Chuncheon-Cheorwon, and Sokcho-Goseong expressways will improve industry and tourism infrastructure in their neighboring areas.
_경북 제2차 고속도로 건설 계획.png)
_경부선 화성~서울 구간 추가도로터널 확장 개념도.jpg)
