Securing an Additional 25.5 Billion Won in Project Funds Aimed for Opening in 2027
Shinan-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Park Woo-ryang) announced on the 12th that the feasibility re-investigation plan to expand the 6 km section from Aphae-eup town center to Aphae Bridge into a 4-lane road during the Aphae Sinjang~Bokryong road facility improvement project was approved at the 6th Financial Project Evaluation Committee.
This project, aimed at improving the traffic efficiency and safety of National Routes 2 and 77 passing through Aphae-eup, involves investing a total project cost of 65.8 billion KRW to upgrade the entire 10.71 km stretch between Sinjang-ri and Bokryong-ri in Aphae-eup to a 2-lane road meeting national road design standards. Construction began in March 2008.
Although the project was scheduled for completion in October 2023, after the opening of the Cheonsa Bridge, the daily traffic volume surged to 12,664 vehicles, exceeding the appropriate 2-lane traffic volume of 9,400 vehicles, and traffic accidents increased sharply. This made it difficult to meet traffic demand, highlighting the need to expand the number of lanes.
Vehicles are slowing down due to increased traffic on the main road in Aphae-eup. [Photo by Shinan-gun]
Shinan-gun conducted its own feasibility study and proposed the 4-lane expansion to the Iksan Regional Land Management Office, the project executor. As the total project cost increased from 65.8 billion KRW to around 90 billion KRW, the Iksan Regional Land Management Office classified it as a project subject to feasibility re-investigation and has been undergoing a feasibility re-investigation by KDI since the first half of 2023.
Following approval at the 6th Financial Project Evaluation Committee, an additional project budget of 25.5 billion KRW was secured, increasing the total to 91.3 billion KRW, enabling the 4-lane expansion construction for the 6 km section from Aphae Sinjang Intersection to Aphae-eup town center.
Governor Park Woo-ryang said, “The results of this feasibility re-investigation are very meaningful as they analyze the current rapid growth and continuous growth potential of Shinan-gun, and we expect it to have a positive influence on future large-scale projects in Shinan-gun. I would like to thank everyone who worked together until this project was confirmed.”
The road facility improvement project between Sinjang and Bokryong, which was temporarily suspended for the feasibility re-investigation, is scheduled to resume construction within the first half of next year after about six months of design changes. With the 4-lane expansion, the final completion date is expected to be extended by about three years from 2024 to 2027, with opening planned for 2027.
After opening, the establishment of a comprehensive transportation network through Kim Dae-jung Bridge, Aphae Bridge, Cheonsa Bridge, and Aphae~Hwawon viaducts is expected to greatly alleviate traffic inconvenience for local residents and road users and reduce logistics costs.
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