Assemblyman Lee Byung-jin: "Five Road Projects in Pyeongtaek Selected for Ministry of Land's Preliminary Feasibility Study"

New Construction of National Highways 38 and 43, Expansion of Highway 45
"Significant for the Development of the Western Region Neglected in Urban Growth"

Major national highway new construction and expansion projects in the western region of Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do, have been included in the preliminary feasibility study target by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

On the 17th, according to Lee Byung-jin, a member of the National Assembly from the Democratic Party of Korea (Pyeongtaek-eul), five road projects within Pyeongtaek-si were selected as targets for the batch preliminary feasibility study for the establishment of the "6th National and Local Highway 5-Year Road Construction Plan (2026-2030)" promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Among the five projects, four are aimed at improving the road network in the western region of Pyeongtaek.

Lee Byung-jin (left), a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is delivering a petition for the establishment of major national highway projects in Pyeongtaek City during a meeting with Lee Woo-je, Director General of the Road Bureau at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, in September last year. Photo by Lee Byung-jin's office

The 5-year road construction plan for national and local highways is a project plan established every five years by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The Ministry selects project targets and applies for a batch preliminary feasibility study to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the final construction plan is confirmed based on the investigation results from the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

The five projects within Pyeongtaek-si selected for this preliminary feasibility study are: ▲ New 4-lane construction of National Highway No. 38 from Pyeongtaek Poseung to Oseong (7 km) (KRW 292 billion) ▲ New 4-lane construction of National Highway No. 43 from Pyeongtaek Oseong to Hwaseong Yanggam (8.8 km) (KRW 251.3 billion) ▲ New 4-lane construction of National Highway No. 38 from Pyeongtaek Hapjeong to Anseong Gondo (8.2 km) (KRW 287.5 billion) ▲ New 4-lane construction of National Highway No. 38 from Pyeongtaek Oseong to Godeok (5.4 km) (KRW 186.2 billion) ▲ Expansion to 6 lanes of National Highway No. 45 from Asan Dunpo to Pyeongtaek Paengseong Namsan (4.4 km) (KRW 82.5 billion).

National Highway No. 38 is the only arterial road network connecting the western and eastern parts of Pyeongtaek-si. Due to the continuous increase in traffic volume caused by the development of Pyeongtaek Port and the western region, the need for improvement has been consistently raised. The construction of two new routes within Highway 38 is expected to have effects such as the development of the port hinterland area of Pyeongtaek Port, traffic volume dispersion, and linkage with metropolitan traffic improvement measures.

The new 4-lane construction project of National Highway No. 43 from Pyeongtaek Oseong to Hwaseong Yanggam is a project to connect the disconnected sections of the national highway, strengthening the function and connectivity of the general national highway arterial network. Once this road network is established, it is expected to facilitate connections between Godeok International New City and surrounding industrial complexes.

The expansion to 6 lanes of National Highway No. 45 from Asan Dunpo to Pyeongtaek Paengseong Namsan is expected to help alleviate traffic congestion caused by traffic demand in the Paengseong area and increased industrial logistics in the West Coast region, as well as contribute to balanced regional development.

Assemblyman Lee said, "Expanding the road network to alleviate traffic congestion has been a long-standing wish of Pyeongtaek citizens," adding, "Especially for the western region, which has been neglected in city development, the selection of this major road project for preliminary feasibility study is very meaningful." He also stated, "I will actively consult with the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and others to ensure these projects are included in the final legal plan."

Earlier, in September last year, Assemblyman Lee met consecutively with Maeng Sung-kyu, Chairman of the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, and Lee Woo-je, Director General of the Road Bureau at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, to propose the necessity of expanding the related road network.