Will Transportation Improve in Southwestern Gyeonggi? 'Hwaseong~Gwacheon Private Road' Feasibility Study Requested

Gyeonggi-do Requests Proposal from KDI for 'Hwaseong~Gwacheon Expressway Private Investment Project'
Construction to Start in 2028, Opening Targeted for 2033... Driving Gyeonggi-do Construction Market Revitalization
Expected Economic Ripple Effect of 4 Trillion KRW and Employment Effect of Over 19,000 Jobs

Gyeonggi Province announced on the 30th that it received proposals for the ‘Hwaseong~Gwacheon Expressway Private Investment Project’ and requested a feasibility study from KDI (Korea Development Institute) on the 26th.

Proposal for the 'Hwaseong~Gwacheon Expressway Private Investment Project'. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

Gyeonggi Province received proposals for the ‘Hwaseong~Gwacheon Expressway Private Investment Project’ to alleviate severe traffic congestion on major arterial roads in the southwestern part of Gyeonggi, such as Local Road 309 and National Road 47, and to prepare for increased traffic demand due to large-scale development plans including the 3rd New Towns (excluding Uiwang, Gunpo, and Ansan).

The Hwaseong~Gwacheon Expressway is a road construction project spanning a total of 31.1 km connecting Bongdam-eup in Hwaseong City to Gwanmun-dong in Gwacheon City, with a total project cost of approximately 1.8 trillion KRW. In November this year, the consortium tentatively named Gyeonggi Smileway Co., Ltd., led by Hyosung Heavy Industries, proposed the project.

Upon project implementation, it is expected that the severe traffic congestion on Local Road 309 and National Road 47, the only arterial roads connecting southwestern Gyeonggi and Seoul, will be alleviated.

Traffic volume on Local Road 309 is expected to decrease by about 22,000 vehicles per day, and on the Gunpo-ro section of National Road 47 in Gunpo City by about 26,000 vehicles per day. Additionally, traffic on Gwacheon Jungang-ro near the Gwacheon Knowledge Information Town in Gwacheon City is expected to reduce by about 11,000 vehicles daily, significantly improving the traffic environment in the area.

Moreover, using the Hwaseong~Gwacheon Expressway will shorten travel time from Bongdam in Hwaseong to Seoul by approximately 32 to 53 minutes compared to the existing route, greatly enhancing the commuting environment and quality of life for residents in southwestern Gyeonggi.

After the private investment feasibility study, procedures such as strategic environmental impact assessment, third-party announcement for selecting private investment operators, signing of implementation agreements, and approval of implementation plans will proceed. The province plans to start construction in 2028 and open the road in 2033.

Kim Young-seop, Director of the Road Policy Division of Gyeonggi Province, said, “We will minimize inconvenience to residents by synchronizing the occupancy period of the newly developed 3rd New Towns in southwestern Gyeonggi with the road opening through a ‘traffic first, development later’ approach. This project is expected to have an economic ripple effect of over 4 trillion KRW and create about 19,000 jobs. We will strive to improve the commuting environment and quality of life for residents in southwestern Gyeonggi.”