All Three Current Projects in Wando-gun Reflected in New Government's National Agenda

Early Green Light for Phase 2 and Other Early Construction of Gwangju~Wando Expressway

The Gwangju-Wando Expressway project began its first construction in 2017 and is currently 50% complete. Photo by Wando-gun

[Wando＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Kyung-pil] Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do, expects that the promotion of three local pending projects will gain momentum as they have been reflected in the regional balanced development vision public announcement presented by the Presidential Transition Committee.

According to the county on the 29th, the local pending projects include the rapid promotion of the second phase of the Gwangju-Wando expressway, the construction of the Goheung-Wando land and island bridges, and the construction of the Nohwa-Soan island bridge.

The Gwangju-Wando expressway construction project is currently progressing normally, with 50% of the work completed on the first phase section from Gwangju to Seongjeon, Gangjin, which began in 2017.

In January, the second phase section from Seongjeon, Gangjin to Namchang, Haenam was selected as a priority route in the ‘2nd Expressway Construction Plan.’

In particular, with the second phase of the Gwangju-Wando expressway being reflected for rapid promotion in the new government’s national agenda, administrative procedures will be reduced and national budget allocation will be possible, signaling an early groundbreaking.

Once the Gwangju-Wando expressway is fully opened, travel time will be shortened to within about 50 minutes, which is expected to create a breakthrough for regional development by reducing logistics costs and attracting tourists.

The construction of the Goheung-Wando land and island bridges is the only disconnected section of the South Coast tourist road connecting Mokpo to Busan. As a result of Wando-gun’s all-out efforts to connect this section, it was upgraded to a national road in May last year.

Following the upgrade to a national road, it has been reflected in the new government’s national agenda, and it is expected to gain momentum for exemption from preliminary feasibility studies and budget allocation, making early construction likely.

The construction of the Nohwa-Soan island bridge is a project to unite the three island areas of Nohwa, Soan, and Bogil into one economic and living zone. In December last year, 500 million won was secured from the national budget for a feasibility study.

In February, the section from Songji, Haenam to Nohwa and Soan was upgraded to a local road, and with its reflection in the new government’s national agenda, budget allocation has become easier, raising expectations for prompt project commencement.

A county official said, “With the reflection of the new government’s national agenda, the region’s largest pending projects can now be initiated, so we will make further efforts to ensure they proceed quickly.”

Wando＝Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Kyung-pil ckp6737@asiae.co.kr