"Seogwangju IC Traffic Crisis... Proactive Response Needed"
City: "Continuous Requests to the Government for Full National Funding Support"
On the 7th, Council Member Chae Eunji (Democratic Party of Korea, Proportional Representation) of the Gwangju City Council, during the 331st temporary session plenary meeting, delivered a "five-minute free speech" urging the city of Gwangju to take proactive measures against the traffic crisis around the Seogwangju IC area and to push for the full conversion of the Honam Expressway expansion project to be funded entirely by the national government and included as a presidential pledge.
Chae emphasized, "Seogwangju IC is a major traffic hub with approximately 156,000 vehicles passing through daily, and Unam Intersection sees about 109,000 vehicles each day. With 5,674 households scheduled to move into large apartment complexes by next year, and mega-development projects such as The Hyundai Gwangju, Gwangju Shinsegae expansion, and Jeonilbang site development set to begin, it is obvious that the current bottleneck will escalate into a major crisis."
She further suggested that Gwangju City urgently needs to respond with transportation infrastructure measures, including: ▲ installation of a grade-separated interchange at Unam Intersection ▲ improvement of connection road structures such as Bukmun-daero and Dongun Overpass ▲ early construction of new roads in anticipation of development projects ▲ opening of the Yongbong IC access road and expansion of the Honam Expressway.
Chae particularly pointed out the national responsibility for the expansion project of the Honam Expressway section between Donggwangju IC and Gwangsan IC, stating, "Although this section is a main road that the nation is obligated to manage under the Road Act, Gwangju City is bearing 50% of the total project cost. The city's share alone has increased by 287%, from 138.1 billion won to 396.7 billion won, and the total project cost is expected to exceed 1 trillion won," she expressed with concern.
She added, "It is unsustainable for Gwangju City, with its low fiscal self-reliance, to continue shouldering this financial burden. Full conversion of the project to national funding and inclusion as a pledge in the next presidential election are absolutely necessary."
She also said, "Now that a new era has opened following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol, it is time to face the realities of local regions and pursue balanced development that goes beyond the dominance of the capital area. With an early presidential election approaching, Gwangju City must thoroughly prepare based on the voices of its citizens and strategically raise local issues to the level of national agenda."
Chae added, "Seogwangju IC is the gateway to Gwangju, the city of fun, and the last bastion of urban traffic. If we miss this golden time, not only will the function of the roads be lost, but Gwangju's growth opportunities may also be missed. Now is the time to restructure the national responsibility and promises for Gwangju's future."
In response, a Gwangju City official explained, "Given the city's financial situation, it is realistically difficult to bear 50% (396.7 billion won) of the Honam Expressway expansion project. Since the construction and management of expressways are national responsibilities, we are continuously petitioning the government to secure full national funding."
The official also stated, "Regarding the traffic issues at Seogwangju IC, we are reviewing various improvement measures to alleviate citizens' traffic inconveniences through expert consultations and related studies."
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