Economic organizations in the Gwangju region have welcomed the city’s decision to resume the Honam Expressway expansion project and have urged for its swift commencement.
On July 2, the Gwangju Chamber of Commerce and Industry issued a statement, saying, "We sincerely welcome Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijung's official announcement, made at the 'Listening to Gwangju Citizens' Opinions on the Honam Expressway Expansion Project' forum held by the city the previous day, that city funds will be invested in the expansion of the Donggwangju to Gwangsan IC section (11.2km)." The Chamber added, "The Honam Expressway expansion project is a key regional infrastructure initiative with a total project cost of approximately 793.4 billion won, and a comprehensive improvement plan has been established, including the installation of soundproof walls, road expansion, and construction of auxiliary facilities."
The Chamber stated, "Initially, the project was promoted with Korea Expressway Corporation and Gwangju City each sharing 50% of the costs. However, as the city attempted to convert the project to be fully funded by the national government due to financial difficulties, the approximately 40 billion won in national funds secured for this year faced the risk of being cut in the recent government supplementary budget proposal." The Chamber continued, "We fully understand and sympathize with the reality that the city is under significant financial strain due to a recent decrease in tax revenue, as well as the advancement of major initiatives such as Urban Railway Line 2 and the Private Park Special Project. Under these circumstances, the decision to invest city funds and to strive for the project's inclusion in the government’s supplementary budget is a highly responsible one."
The statement went on to say, "Currently, local members of the National Assembly, centering on the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, are actively working to restore the budget for the Honam Expressway expansion project, which was cut in the latest supplementary proposal, and this is raising expectations within the local community." "What is important now is for citizens, the political community, and the business sector to unite and trust the city's decision," the Chamber emphasized.
Additionally, the Chamber stated, "The Honam Expressway expansion project is a crucial turning point for expanding Gwangju’s transportation network, strengthening its logistics capabilities, and ensuring the sustainable growth of the city’s competitiveness and industrial ecosystem." The Gwangju Chamber of Commerce and Industry also pledged to actively communicate and cooperate with the local community to support the smooth and prompt implementation of the project.
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