Allegations of Poor Construction Quality in 'Gwanggyo-North Suwon Private Roadway'

On the 12th, the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly's Committee on Construction and Transportation (Chairman Park Dong-woo) conducted an intensive audit on the 'Gwanggyo-North Suwon private roadway' during the 2012 administrative audit period.

Committee members conducted comprehensive inspections related to the private roadway construction and held focused inquiries regarding the immediate withdrawal of the Gwanggyo-North Suwon private roadway and defects in demand forecasting.

Councilor Kim Joo-sung (Democratic Party, Suwon District 2) stated, "Currently, Suwon City is completely surrounded by toll roads including those connecting Uiwang-Gwacheon, Gwanggyo-North Suwon, and Gwangmyeong-Geumgok-dong, as well as the Yeongdong and Gyeongbu Expressways, leaving Suwon citizens unable to travel freely anywhere without paying tolls," pointing out that private roadway construction in the province is being carried out indiscriminately.

Councilor Kim further stated, "The Gwanggyo-North Suwon private roadway, initially estimated at 196.9 billion won, increased to 211.3 billion won in 2004 and was said to be 305 billion won in 2007, but the 2008 feasibility re-evaluation service for the Suwon Outer Ring (Northern) Road private investment project conducted by Suwon City calculated the total project cost at 371.4 billion won," and argued, "The increase in private project expenses in pursuing the project ultimately leads to an increase in toll charges."

In response, Shin Hyun-yong, head of Gwanggyo Facilities Division at Gyeonggi Urban Corporation, answered, "The Gwanggyo-North Suwon private roadway is being proceeded as part of the metropolitan traffic improvement measures and is ultimately a problem that needs to be resolved by Suwon City," after which Councilor Kim demanded the withdrawal of the Gwanggyo-North Suwon private roadway and instructed that "Gyeonggi Urban Corporation should step back and let Suwon City make its own judgment."

Meanwhile, the administrative audit initially requested two witnesses, including Lee Ji-hyung, director of Project Division 1 at Gyeonggi Urban Corporation, but the director notified of his absence and did not attend.