Overall Evaluation of 18 Private Toll Highways Operation and Management Improves by 6.3%
[Asia Economy Reporter Jo Gang-wook] Suwon Gwangmyeong Expressway was selected as the ‘Best’ private expressway this year.
According to the 2021 operation evaluation results (last year’s performance) announced on the 3rd by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for 18 private expressways nationwide, Suwon Gwangmyeong Expressway was selected as the ‘Best’ private corporation. Following it, four expressways including Busan Ulsan Expressway, Oksan Ochang Expressway, Yongin Seoul Expressway, and Incheon Bridge were selected as ‘Excellent’ corporations.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Transport Institute’s Private Road Management Support Center conducted evaluations over three months from April to June on four areas: safety, convenience, efficiency, and public interest for private expressways.
The evaluation results showed that the overall operation and management level of private expressways improved. The average operation evaluation score rose by 5 points (6.3%) from 79 last year to 84 this year, with all four evaluation items improving.
The score deviation among private expressways also decreased by about 18%, from 7.16 points last year to 5.88 points this year, indicating an overall improvement in the operation and management level of all private expressways.
Efforts to improve user convenience, secure road public interest, and enhance road safety to reduce traffic accidents were also notable in this evaluation.
Suwon Gwangmyeong Expressway improved user convenience by expanding Hi-Pass lanes at toll gates prone to frequent congestion (Namgwangmyeong TG, Dongsiheung TG). Daegu Busan and Seoul Chuncheon Expressways lowered toll fees through business restructuring, while Incheon Gimpo, Pyeongtaek Siheung, and Anyang Seongnam Expressways suppressed toll fee increase factors through financial restructuring, reducing user burdens.
Incheon Bridge and Busan Ulsan Expressway introduced load imbalance detection systems using new technologies such as video analysis to enhance traffic safety. Pyeongtaek Siheung Expressway and Gwangju Wonju Expressway introduced vehicle-mounted road surface temperature collection sensors and established a rapid freezing response system by linking with freezing management systems in real time.
Efforts to reduce traffic accidents for creating a safe road environment were evaluated as areas requiring more active promotion. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Private Road Management Support Center plan to expand best practices from the operation evaluation to all private expressways and promptly improve insufficient cases. In particular, a joint workshop for private expressways (non-face-to-face) will be held in September to actively share best practices and promptly receive action plans for deficiencies, thoroughly checking follow-up implementation status within three months.
Oh Won-man, Director of the Road Investment Support Division at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, "Through the operation evaluation conducted annually by the Ministry and the Private Road Management Support Center, the overall operation and management level of private expressways is improving," adding, "We will continue to refine the evaluation system to accurately reflect operation and management levels and conduct strict evaluations so that the public can use roads safely and conveniently."
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