End of Private Operator Management Period
Jwacheon-dong, Dong-gu to Gayadong, Busanjin-gu
The Sujeongsan Tunnel in Busan will be operated toll-free starting from April 19, 2027.
The Sujeongsan Tunnel, which connects Jwacheon-dong in Dong-gu and Gayadong in Busanjin-gu, will stop collecting tolls 25 years after it began operating as a privately funded toll road following its opening in 2002.
On June 19, Busan City announced that the "Agreement on the Determination of the Promotion Method for the Sujeongsan Tunnel Private Investment Project" had passed the plenary session of the city council, and that toll collection would be abolished starting from the day after the end of the private operator's management and operation period (April 18, 2027).
The Sujeongsan Tunnel is a key east-west traffic corridor and part of Gwanmun-daero, used by tens of thousands of vehicles daily. In 2024, the city established a management implementation plan through the Busan Institute of Research Public Investment Management Center, and based on estimated traffic volumes, decided to maintain the current two-lane system in each direction while ending toll operations.
To prepare for an expected increase in traffic after the tunnel becomes toll-free, the city plans to conduct a detailed survey of nearby intersections and road sections, and to develop plans for signal optimization and geometric improvements.
Legal safety management of the tunnel will be handled by the City Construction Safety Testing Office, while routine management will be entrusted to the Busan Facilities Corporation.
Park Hyungjun, Mayor of Busan, stated, "Making the Sujeongsan Tunnel toll-free will reduce the burden of tolls on citizens and improve convenience for urban travel," adding, "We will make thorough preparations to ensure there are no gaps in traffic management and facility maintenance."
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