Osan Mayor Lee Gwon-jae Proposes Key Policy Solutions to Transport Minister Won Hee-ryong

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Choi Ki-ho] Osan Mayor Lee Gwon-jae met directly with Transport Minister Won Hee-ryong to actively propose key projects for resolving regional issues, including improvements to traffic policies.

At a meeting with Transport Minister Won Hee-ryong held on the 24th at the Government Complex in Sejong, the mayor proposed ▲expanding National Local Road 23 from Yangseong-myeon in Anseong-si to Namsa-myeon in Yongin-si from a 2-lane to 4-lane road (requesting its inclusion in the national and local road five-year plan) and, as a short-term alternative, ▲opening a Seoul-bound Namsa Jinwi Interchange, as well as ▲institutional improvements for establishing new bus stops in the Gohyeon-dong area for express bus M5438 connecting Pyeongtaek and Gangnam Station to address traffic dispersion and improve regional transit infrastructure in southern Gyeonggi Province due to increased occupancy in surrounding industrial complexes.

Currently, the Gohyeon-dong area experiences continuous traffic complaints due to insufficient regional transit infrastructure compared to its growing population. Osan City expects that if express bus M5438, which passes through Osan Interchange, stops in the Gohyeon-dong (Cheongho-dong) area, commute times would be significantly reduced as this would allow faster highway access compared to existing express buses (5200, 5300).

In response, Osan Mayor Lee Gwon-jae stated, "Establishing new bus stops in the Gohyeon-dong area is a necessary alternative that improves residents' transit convenience without significantly compromising the purpose of express buses, as it would be prior to highway entry. Since this is impossible under current regulations, I request that you actively review institutional improvements to relax distance restrictions on express bus stop installations."

Meanwhile, among the proposals Osan City submitted to the Transport Ministry on this day was the opening of "Sky Rest Areas" in both directions on the Gyeongbu Expressway, which is an election pledge of Osan Mayor Lee Gwon-jae to invigorate the local economy.

Osan Mayor Lee Gwon-jae stated, "Osan City is a strategic point connecting the Seoul metropolitan area and southern Gyeonggi Province. However, as traffic congestion intensifies due to industrial complex expansion in nearby areas such as Pyeongtaek and Yongin and increased commuter traffic, the damage falls entirely on Osan citizens." He emphasized, "As occupancy in Osan Segyeo 2 District is expected to begin next year, serious traffic congestion is anticipated. Therefore, government initiatives for institutional improvements to expand traffic infrastructure are absolutely necessary."

In response, Transport Minister Won Hee-ryong also said, "I empathize with Osan City's traffic challenges and residents' inconvenience," and replied, "I will thoroughly review the matter with our working-level officials so that Osan City's proposals can be actively reflected at the central government level."