DL E&C has secured the contract for the ‘Namhae Seomyeon-Yeosu Shindeok National Road Construction Project (Namhae-Yeosu Undersea Tunnel Construction Project)’ by presenting a creative design featuring an undersea branch tunnel.
On the 22nd, DL E&C announced that it received the notification of selection as the qualified bidder for the detailed design of the Namhae-Yeosu undersea tunnel construction project, commissioned by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. This project involves constructing a new 4-lane national road spanning a total of 8.09 km, connecting Shindeok-dong in Yeosu, Jeollanam-do, and Seomyeon in Namhae, Gyeongsangnam-do. The total project cost is 697.4 billion KRW and includes an undersea branch tunnel section of 5.76 km. Upon completion in 2031, the travel time between Namhae and Yeosu is expected to be drastically reduced from the current 1 hour 30 minutes to just 10 minutes.
Proposing a Branch Tunnel with Creative Design Differentiation Considering Regional Balanced Development
Among the bidding companies, DL E&C was the only one to propose a differentiated design plan that included a new connecting road to the northern side of Namhae County in addition to the main tunnel, earning the highest technical score.
The basic plan for this project was a one-way southern route connecting Shindeok-dong in Yeosu, Jeollanam-do, to Seosang-ri in Namhae, Gyeongsangnam-do, an area rich in tourist resources. However, DL E&C proposed a design that connects Namsang-ri in the northwest of Namhae through an undersea branch tunnel. By integrating branch tunnel technology and know-how accumulated from construction experiences such as the Singapore Marina Coastal Expressway and the Sinwol-Yeoui underground road (Seoul Jemulpo Tunnel), the design connects both the southern and northern parts of Namhae to Yeosu, enabling balanced benefits for tourism and regional economic revitalization.
Additionally, DL E&C doubled the number of tunnel construction faces from the existing 4 to 8 through the undersea branch tunnel design. Increasing the number of construction faces allows more sections to be worked on simultaneously, shortening the construction period by approximately 13 months. The increased number of connecting tunnels also doubles the capacity for evacuation, rescue, and smoke ventilation performance in emergencies.
Application of Smart Construction Technologies... Securing Optimal Route Feasibility and Safety
The Namhae-Yeosu undersea tunnel designed by DL E&C incorporates a variety of smart construction technologies. DL E&C created a differentiated design using its self-developed ‘BIM (Building Information Modeling) Tunnel Design Package.’ Utilizing AI-based Generative Design, the undersea ground conditions were precisely analyzed to explore the optimal alignment, and BIM and Geographic Information System data were used to automatically carry out tunnel blasting design. This enabled the implementation of the shortest undersea tunnel construction section among the submitted design proposals, and the cost savings from this were used to derive an original design connecting both the southern and northern parts of Namhae.
In particular, DL E&C will apply Korea’s first self-developed insulated and fire-resistant concrete to enhance the fire resistance of the undersea tunnel and prevent condensation. This high-performance concrete reduces thermal conductivity by 40% compared to conventional concrete, thereby strengthening the structural safety.
Furthermore, DL E&C proposed various digital technologies to ensure safety, including a 24-hour integrated control safety platform, a cutting-edge technology convergence smart measurement system, and the use of smart construction equipment.
Domestic and International Undersea Tunnel Markets Open... "Expanding Orders with Overwhelming Technology"
The industry expects the domestic and international undersea tunnel markets to expand significantly as undersea tunnels gain cost competitiveness over bridges due to recent improvements in tunnel construction technology. In Korea, several projects are underway, including the ‘Boryeong Undersea Tunnel’ opened in 2021, the ‘Aphae-Hwawon Undersea Tunnel,’ and the ‘Pohang-Yeongilman Undersea Tunnel.’ Opportunities such as the ‘Korea-Japan Undersea Tunnel’ and the ‘Korea-China Undersea Tunnel’ are also anticipated in the future.
With the contract for the Namhae-Yeosu undersea tunnel, DL E&C has proven its differentiated undersea tunnel design and construction technology, and it expects to expand orders by leveraging overwhelming competitiveness in the domestic and international undersea tunnel markets.
Kwon Sooyoung, Head of DL E&C’s Civil Engineering Division, said, “DL E&C will strive to contribute to national and regional development and improve the quality of life for the people through technology that is on a different level.”
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