Feature Pocheon City Expands Comprehensive Road Network... "Pursuing Balanced Regional Development"

Pocheon City (Mayor Kim Jong-cheon), which has adopted "Hope City Pocheon where citizens' dreams come true" as its municipal vision, is concentrating administrative efforts on road expansion and construction projects based on National Route 43, the city's main artery.

National Route 43 experiences approximately 60,000 vehicles daily and serves as a bottleneck for regional development due to chronic traffic congestion. The city is pursuing various projects to expand and improve roads with comprehensive connectivity and expand urban infrastructure, thereby contributing to balanced regional development, revitalization of the local economy, and improved quality of life for citizens.

The following are the transportation network expansion projects that Pocheon City is pursuing for easy accessibility and balanced regional development.

To resolve traffic congestion concentrated on National Route 43 and improve transportation infrastructure, the city has invested approximately 41.3 billion won since 2009. In 2011, it opened a 2.22km road section between Donggyo and Seondan, and in 2014, it opened a 2.51km road section between Seondan and Jajak.

Since 2016, basic and detailed design services have been underway for the final section (2.76km between Jajak and Eoryong) of the National Route 43 bypass road connecting to the previously opened 4.73km road between Donggyo and Jajak. Upon completion of the design, the city plans to invest 37 billion won in land compensation and construction costs, targeting completion by 2020.

This, combined with the opening of the private investment expressway between Guri and Pocheon and the completion of the National Route 43 road expansion and improvement project, is expected to appropriately distribute traffic volume on National Route 43, thereby alleviating severe congestion.

Meanwhile, the road expansion and improvement project between Gomo and Jikdong connecting Jikdong-ri in Soheul-eup to Gomo-ri is being smoothly promoted with a total project cost of 29.4 billion won over approximately 3.34km, targeting completion in 2017. Upon opening, this road will secure access to tourist attractions in the Gomo-ri (Jikdong-ri) area, including the Arboretum Gomo Lake Park (formerly Gomo Reservoir) and the Korea National Arboretum, and increased annual visitors are expected to revitalize the local economy. The planned "Gomori Estate" in this area is expected to be successfully developed in conjunction with the opening of the Gomo-Jikdong road and the Seoul Metropolitan Area Outer Ring Expressway Second Route (Pocheon-Hwado).

Additionally, the road expansion and improvement project between Chukseok and Mubong, which is reflected in the "Regional Traffic Improvement Measures for Uijeongbu Minrak 2 District Land Development Project" and jointly promoted by Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH) and Pocheon City, is being pursued with a total project cost of 25 billion won over approximately 3.31km, targeting completion in 2017. Upon completion, it will significantly contribute to alleviating traffic congestion between Pocheon City and Uijeongbu City.

As part of efforts to improve roadway conditions and access routes for quarries and small and medium enterprises that produce the nationally famous Pocheon stone, the city is investing a total project cost of 18 billion won in the 3.9km road expansion and improvement project between Sinpyeong and Gayang, targeting completion in 2018. This is expected to contribute to revitalizing local economies in various fields and reducing logistics costs.

The road expansion and improvement project between National Route 43 and Yeongbuk-go (1.56km), which Pocheon City is pursuing as a key project for local economic revitalization and urban infrastructure expansion, will be completed by 2018 with a total project cost of 16 billion won. This will improve traffic congestion in the tourist area surrounding Sanjeong Lake in Yeongbuk-myeon.

The road expansion and improvement project for Yangmun downtown access connecting from National Route 43 (Gom Pass) to Yangmun downtown (1.73km), which involves a total project cost of 16 billion won, is being pursued as a support project for surrounding areas of the U.S. Forces Korea-supplied area, targeting completion in 2019. This addresses damage caused by the Yeongpyeong Firing Range used by the U.S. Forces Korea.

Additionally, the city is pursuing the Ildong urban plan road expansion and improvement project (361m between Jigu-dae and Soya), Naechon urban plan road opening project (193m), Gasan-myeon urban plan road opening project (222m), and Yeongbuk Sports Park urban plan road opening project (120m). Upon completion of these projects in 2017, they are expected to contribute to economic revitalization through opening unopened urban plan roads and resolving resident inconveniences.

Furthermore, the city is pursuing the opening of an urban plan road (Soro 2-Pocheon 17, 290m) connecting Pocheon Middle School, used as a school commute route, to the Municipal Central Library, actively working to create a safe learning environment for students by reducing traffic accident risks on the narrow commute routes.

To resolve chronic traffic congestion on National Route 43, the city is opening an urban plan road (383m) connecting the Daejon University access road in Seondan-dong and the road in front of the dong office, thereby alleviating vehicle congestion during rush hours. Future connection with the Seondan Cultural Park access road is expected to contribute to improved quality of life for local residents.

Pocheon City is establishing a rapid maintenance system for hazardous areas and accident-prone areas on major roads to provide citizens with safer and more convenient road services.

To ensure traffic safety on 600km of national, provincial, and municipal roads passing through Pocheon City and provide a comfortable road environment for travelers and tourists visiting the city, the city invests more than 300 million won annually in road maintenance and management.

Additionally, road maintenance personnel continuously patrol and perform emergency repairs for minor road damage, urgent collection of roadside obstacles causing significant hazards to safe driving, and roadside grass cutting to remove driver visibility obstruction, consistently promoting road maintenance for safe road operation.

Mobilizing approximately 3,000 tons of winter de-icing materials, three automated brine spreading facilities, and 12 de-icing equipment including leased machinery, the city pursues snow removal work on national routes, provincial and municipal roads, and village roads to ensure safe road operation. Through continuous and steady road maintenance projects, Pocheon City will contribute to its image as a city providing a safe road environment.

Additionally, through asphalt resurfacing of poorly maintained roads and bridges directly related to citizen safety, seismic reinforcement of aging bridges, regular inspections of specific management target bridges, and crackdowns on illegal street vendors, the city is working to prevent traffic accidents involving citizens and vehicles. The opening of eco-friendly roads that people wish to walk through with nature is expected to further enhance Pocheon City's status as a prestigious leisure city.

To expand cultural and welfare facilities in rural areas and improve the inconvenient living conditions of rural residents, the city is pursuing various characteristic rural environmental improvement projects, including sports facilities, rural road paving, and village community centers as production infrastructure and living environment improvement projects in rural areas. By expanding cultural and welfare facilities, the city aims to contribute to citizens' healthy lifestyles.

The rural living environment improvement project, which began as a rural settlement development project in 2004, completed development projects in 10 myeons by 2016. This year, the city targets the completion of parking lot improvement projects at Unaksan Mountain in Hwahyeon-myeon and water pipe installation projects in Hwahyeon-ri and one other location in Hwahyeon-myeon.

Pocheon City plans to complete the rural living environment improvement project, which has invested approximately 34.9 billion won total and targeted 11 myeons, thereby finishing the initiative.

Additionally, the city is actively promoting the Art Valley bypass road expansion and improvement project (812m) and the Gal-wol-ri access road expansion and improvement project (750m), targeting completion in 2017. Upon completion of these two roads, they are expected to resolve local resident inconveniences and contribute to local economic revitalization.

Mayor Kim Jong-cheon stated, "As Pocheon City continues to grow as a hub city in northern Gyeonggi Province, I will prioritize citizen happiness in municipal affairs by aiming for vibrant local economy, education that opens opportunities, appealing cultural tourism, and dignified living environment. With beautiful nature and infinite development potential, I will make every effort to build Hope City Pocheon where citizens' dreams come true with greater expectations for the future."