Location map of general national roads and upgraded national support local roads (Data provided by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)
[Asia Economy Reporter Mun Je-won] The government will upgrade the classification of roads managed by 14 local governments that connect major hubs to national highways and nationally supported local roads. This is expected to enhance public transportation convenience by connecting disconnected road sections and providing basic transportation rights to island areas.
On the 12th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced plans to expand the national arterial road network by 262 km by upgrading 14 local government roads (262.5 km) that serve as arterial routes to national highways (9 routes, 168.9 km) and nationally supported local roads (5 routes, 93.6 km), reflecting changes in traffic conditions.
Since July 2019, the Ministry surveyed demand for road classification upgrades across local governments nationwide for four months, then selected 14 sections for upgrade based on quantitative evaluation criteria.
▲ Sections connecting island areas to provide basic transportation rights, ▲ sections connecting previously disconnected routes to improve transportation convenience, and ▲ sections requiring arterial function due to long detours or passing through urban areas were selected.
Through this road classification upgrade, existing traffic congestion is expected to be alleviated, and logistics costs related to access to major logistics and port facilities and other transportation hubs are anticipated to decrease.
The Ministry plans to continue closely analyzing traffic volumes and travel routes on national highways and local roads, improving road connectivity, and making efforts to build and manage the national arterial road network.
Joo Hyun-jong, Director of the Road Bureau at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated, "Including local government roads urgently needing national-level management into the national arterial road network will greatly help ensure public safety and provide transportation convenience."
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