Ulsan Outer Road Network to Open... 'Circular Expressway' Scheduled for 2027 Opening

Simultaneous Contracting of Basic and Detailed Design Services by Dividing into Three Sections
Design and Construction Period Shortened, Opening Advanced by 2 Years
Outer Ring Road Nongso~Gangdong Section Also Scheduled to Open Simultaneously

Ulsan Outer Ring Expressway Route Map.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] The construction of the Ulsan Outer Ring Expressway has set sail. The project is gaining momentum by dividing the construction sections into several parts to shorten the construction period.

On the 25th, Ulsan City announced that the Korea Expressway Corporation has issued a design service contract for the construction of the Ulsan Outer Ring Expressway.

This contract issuance came as a result of active consultations between Ulsan City, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Korea Expressway Corporation, dividing the project into three sections to shorten the project period and simultaneously issuing basic and detailed design service contracts.

The Ulsan Outer Ring Expressway spans a total of 14.8 km from the Gyeongbu Expressway (Miho Junction (JCT)) to Gadae Interchange (IC), divided into Section 1: Miho Junction (JCT) to Park Jae-sang Historic Site, 5.2 km; Section 2: Park Jae-sang Historic Site to Beomseo Interchange (IC), 5.7 km; and Section 3: Beomseo Interchange (IC) to Gadae Interchange (IC), 3.9 km.

By dividing the sections into three parts for contract issuance, the design period can be shortened from 3 years to 2 years, and the construction period can be advanced by about 1 year, resulting in a total reduction of 2 years, with completion expected in 2027.

The construction of the Ulsan Outer Ring Expressway was selected as a project exempt from preliminary feasibility study under the ‘2019 National Balanced Development Project’ in January last year.

In August last year, the Korea Development Institute (KDI) completed a project feasibility review, and this year, a feasibility evaluation service was conducted under the ‘National Integrated Transportation System Efficiency Act.’

On April 27th, Ulsan City announced, as part of the ‘Smart New Deal’ under the Ulsan-type New Deal projects, the ‘early promotion of large-scale road infrastructure projects,’ setting a goal to open the Ulsan Outer Ring Expressway, originally scheduled for 2029, by 2027 at the earliest, and is consulting with related agencies.

With the division of the design service contracts into three sections and the issuance of both basic and detailed design contracts, a total of 2 years of construction period reduction has become possible.

For the ‘Nongso~Gangdong Road Construction Project,’ which is part of the outer ring road promoted by Ulsan City and has a total length of 10.8 km, the design service will also be divided into two sections and construction into four sections to aim for opening in 2027.

Design services for Section 2 (Hogye Interchange (IC) to Gangdong Interchange (IC)) began on July 30th, and Section 1 (Gadae Interchange (IC) to Hogye Interchange (IC)) is planned to start in December.

An official from Ulsan City said, “We will strive to complete the 14.8 km section from Miho Junction (JCT) to Gadae Interchange (IC) by 2027, coinciding with the completion of the Nongso~Gangdong section (10.8 km) that Ulsan City is implementing. Dividing the sections will not only shorten the project period but also help revitalize the local economy by expanding participation of regional construction companies.”