Honam Expressway to Be Widened Between Donggwangju and Gwangsan ICs

Groundbreaking Ceremony Held on September 22...
First Expansion in 25 Years
Total Project Cost: 793.4 Billion Won, Completion Scheduled for 2029

On the morning of the 22nd, at the garden of the National Gwangju Museum in Buk-gu, guests including Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong, Korea Expressway Corporation President Ham Jingyu, and Assemblymen Jeon Jinsuk and Jeong Junho participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the groundbreaking event for the Honam Expressway Donggwangju IC to Gwangsan IC expansion project. Provided by Gwangju City

The section of the Honam Expressway between Donggwangju IC and Gwangsan IC will be expanded from the current four lanes to six to eight lanes. This is a large-scale road expansion project being undertaken for the first time in 25 years since the expressway was widened to four lanes in 1986.

On the morning of September 22, Gwangju City held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Honam Expressway Donggwangju IC to Gwangsan IC section expansion project at the parking lot of the National Gwangju Museum in Buk-gu, officially commencing construction.

This section is a major arterial road on the outskirts of Gwangju, with an average daily traffic volume of about 140,000 vehicles-approximately 2.7 times the optimal capacity of 51,300 vehicles-making it one of the most congested routes in the country.

Accordingly, the city, in cooperation with the central government, has begun full-scale promotion of the expansion project. The total project cost is 793.4 billion won. Funding will be split evenly, with 50% covered by the central government (including national funds and the Korea Expressway Corporation) and 50% by the Gwangju municipal government. The Korea Expressway Corporation will be responsible for implementing the project.

Route map of the Honam Expressway expansion construction between Donggwangju IC and Gwangsan IC. Provided by Gwangju City

The project covers a total length of 11.2 kilometers, with 12 new soundproof tunnels and 20 new bridges to be constructed. Existing facilities, including aging road structures and soundproof walls, will also be completely renovated.

Construction began in September this year, starting with land compensation, and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2029. The city expects the project to not only alleviate traffic congestion but also reduce traffic noise, improve safety, and enhance convenience for residents. On July 1, prior to the groundbreaking, the city collected public feedback through a town hall meeting and incorporated it into the project.

Mayor Kang Gijeong stated, "I deeply appreciate the citizens who have waited for so long and the related organizations that have cooperated. We will use this opportunity to guarantee fast and safe mobility for our citizens and to lay the foundation for sustainable growth. We will continue to do our utmost to implement transportation policies centered on our citizens."