Ganghwa County Establishes Interconnected Transportation System Ahead of 'Highway Era'

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Choi Ki-ho] Ganghwa County held an interim report meeting on the 18th for the 'peripheral road network improvement plan' in preparation for the opening of the 'Gyeyang-Ganghwa Highway' in 2032, and launched efforts to establish an interconnected transportation system in response to the highway era.

The project is being promoted to preemptively respond to traffic changes resulting from the highway opening and to establish systematic improvement measures for the region's road network. The county launched the project in November last year, and through this report meeting, reviewed the implementation status and major discussion items to date.

Previously, the county, in cooperation with Incheon Metropolitan City, upgraded the section connecting the highway from 'Shinjeong-ri, Seonwon-myeon to Oepo-ri, Naega-myeon' to 'Metropolitan Road No. 60' in December last year, and is prioritizing the construction of a four-lane section in Seonwon-myeon. In addition to this, the county plans to accelerate the development of a three-dimensional road network connecting east-west and north-south axes.

□ Building interconnected road network in preparation for highway opening...preemptive response to traffic congestion and bottlenecks

This project was established to enhance mobility and connectivity of the county's transportation infrastructure in preparation for the opening of the 'highway,' the highest grade under the Road Act and Ganghwa County's first, and to preemptively prevent anticipated traffic congestion and bottleneck phenomena.

In particular, emphasis was placed on comprehensively analyzing traffic demand changes around Ganghwa IC and connectivity with existing national and local roads to derive systematic improvement directions.

Based on the results of this project, the county plans to smoothly promote road network improvement projects within a six-year preparation period. Additionally, the county plans to make an all-out effort to secure funding through national and municipal budget allocations.

□ Seoul 20-minute era becomes reality...connecting arterial road networks throughout metropolitan Seoul

The 'Gyeyang-Ganghwa Highway construction project,' which held a groundbreaking ceremony in March, is proceeding smoothly with five of the seven sections having completed construction contracts and construction companies selected. Section 7, which includes Ganghwa County, was the first to sign a construction contract.

Upon opening of the highway, Ganghwa County's transportation map is expected to undergo dramatic changes. Based on a driving speed of 100 km/h, it will take only 8 minutes to reach the Seoul Metropolitan Area's Second Ring Expressway, and 20 minutes to reach the Olympic Avenue and Gangnbyeon North Road, which penetrate central Seoul.

In particular, it will be connected to Incheon International Airport Expressway through Gyeyang JTC, and tightly connected with the Seoul Metropolitan Area's First Ring Road at Gochon JTC and the Seoul Metropolitan Area's Second Ring Road at Tongjin JTC.

Additionally, the Seoul Metropolitan Area's Second Ring Road Gimpo-Paju section, which will become Korea's first to pass under the Han River through a submerged tunnel, is scheduled for completion in December 2027, and is expected to further amplify synergy effects of the main arterial road network connecting Ganghwa County to all areas of the metropolitan region.

□ "With the sense of mission of civil engineers in public works"...concentrating administrative capabilities

The county is concentrating its capabilities around 'civil engineers,' a technical service occupation, to respond to large-scale transportation and civil engineering administrative demands of the highway opening.

In particular, through phase-by-phase report meetings, the county shares business expertise and review items, and plans to preemptively respond to problems that may arise in the process of building the interconnected road network.

A county official stated, "The Gyeyang-Ganghwa Highway is core infrastructure to lead the county's future growth," and added, "We will do our best to build a dense interconnected road network so that county residents can experience the effects of the highway opening."