The Daejeon Overpass on the Gyeongbu Expressway Celebrates 50th Anniversary, Designated as the First Registered Cultural Heritage of an Expressway

1970s view of Daejeon Overpass, Daedeok-gu, Daejeon (Provided by Korea Expressway Corporation)

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The 'Daejeon Overpass' on the Gyeongbu Expressway, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary since opening, has been registered as a National Registered Cultural Heritage.

Korea Expressway Corporation announced on the 10th that the Daejeon Overpass on the Gyeongbu Expressway in Daedeok-gu, Daejeon, has been registered as National Registered Cultural Heritage No. 783. National Registered Cultural Heritage refers to modern cultural assets over 50 years old that have preserved their original form and require future management, and are registered after review by the Cultural Heritage Committee.

The Daejeon Overpass, with a length of 201 meters and a height of 35 meters, was built as the tallest arch bridge in Korea at the time of its construction in 1970. It is a cultural heritage that well represents Korea's civil engineering capabilities and the symbolism of modern industrialization, and has been highly evaluated for its aesthetic value, with its grand scale and elegant design harmonizing with the surrounding nature.

Currently, the Daejeon Overpass has been closed since the expansion work of the Gyeongbu Expressway in 2001. Since then, the area beneath the bridge has been utilized as a neighborhood park and public parking lot for local residents.

After more than 50 years since its completion, issues such as corrosion of the steel structure have arisen, necessitating continuous maintenance. The recent registration as a National Registered Cultural Heritage is seen as laying the foundation for public interest and government support for preservation and repair.

An official from the Expressway Corporation stated, "The Daejeon Overpass is a structure built purely with our civil engineering technology after liberation and holds great significance as the first cultural heritage of the expressway." He added, "We will continue to promote the registration of structures with preservation value, such as the Dangjae Tunnel, as cultural heritage and manage them thoroughly."