Mayor Heo Seong-mu of Changwon-si, Gyeongnam attended the opening ceremony of the Jigae~Namsan connecting road. [Image source=Changwon-si]
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Saeyan] The Jigae~Namsan connecting road, linking Jigaeri in Buk-myeon and Namsan-ri in Dong-eup, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam, has opened three years after construction began.
According to the city on the 30th, the road has a total length of 5.4 km with four lanes in both directions. Construction started in July 2018, with a total project cost of 202.9 billion KRW (167.9 billion KRW from private investment and 35 billion KRW from city funds for compensation).
With this opening, travel time from Buk-myeon to the Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office is expected to be reduced by more than 15 minutes. It will also address the increasing traffic volume in Buk-myeon and Dong-eup areas and provide smooth vehicle flow for citizens by dispersing traffic within the urban area.
The toll fee issue, which was the biggest point of contention before the road opened, was recently resolved meaningfully as the city and the project operator accepted the 1,100 KRW toll (for small cars) recommended by the public deliberation committee composed of citizens and experts.
This is the first case nationwide where toll fees were reduced before opening a privately funded road.
The road will be free to use until August 29, and tolls will be collected starting August 30.
Mayor Heo Seong-mu said, "I thank the residents, construction officials, and project stakeholders who have worked hard so far," adding, "The road opening is expected to have a significant impact on the regional economy beyond the development of Buk-myeon and Dong-eup."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
