Construction and Improvement of 19.1 km Two-Lane Road Planned
Enhanced Accessibility to Sejong
Over 500 Billion Won in Economic Impact Expected for the Region
The 'Naepo New Town-Jeongan IC Connecting Road' project, which will link Daesul-myeon in Yesan County, South Chungcheong Province to Jeongan-myeon in Gongju City within about 20 minutes, has been selected as a candidate for the preliminary feasibility study, accelerating its full-scale implementation.
This project involves the construction and improvement of 9.9 kilometers out of the total 19.1-kilometer section, and serves as a key axis for establishing a wide-area transportation network between Sejong City and Naepo New Town. It is expected to reduce travel time between Yesan and Gongju by more than 30 minutes, generate an induced production effect of 555.1 billion won, create 2,500 jobs, and revitalize the local economy.
The South Chungcheong Provincial Government announced on November 4 that at the Fiscal Project Evaluation Committee of the Ministry of Economy and Finance held on October 31, the 'Naepo New Town-Jeongan IC Connecting Road' was selected as a candidate for the preliminary feasibility study.
This project entails the construction and improvement of a two-lane road connecting Local Road No. 618 near Iti-ri in Daesul-myeon, Yesan County, and Local Road No. 604 in Gwangjeong-ri, Jeongan-myeon, Gongju City. Of the total 19.1 kilometers, 9.2 kilometers will utilize existing roads, while 9.9 kilometers will be newly constructed.
Once the road is completed, the travel distance from Daesul-myeon in Yesan to Jeongan-myeon in Gongju will be shortened by approximately 20 kilometers from the current 46 kilometers, and the travel time will be reduced from 55 minutes to about 23 minutes.
In particular, as the road will be connected to National Road No. 43, accessibility to Sejong City will be greatly improved, thereby strengthening the connectivity between Naepo New Town and the Sejong living area.
The provincial government expects this project to establish an inter-regional transportation network and contribute to balanced development and improved living conditions.
According to the preliminary feasibility study, the project is expected to generate an induced production effect of 555.1 billion won, create 2,500 jobs, and induce employment for 3,329 people, indicating a significant impact on the local economy.
This project was included in the '3rd Comprehensive Plan for Improving Wide-Area Transportation in the Multifunctional Administrative City' by the Multifunctional Administrative City Construction Agency in May 2020, but failed to be selected in three previous rounds of preliminary feasibility study candidacy.
However, due to the growth of Naepo New Town, increased transportation demand, and the relocation of public institutions, the project has now been finally selected as a candidate for the preliminary feasibility study.
The provincial government plans to focus its administrative efforts on the subsequent procedures required to pass the preliminary feasibility study. The study will be conducted by the Korea Development Institute (KDI), which will comprehensively review transportation demand and economic feasibility. If the project's viability is confirmed, it will proceed in earnest.
Choi Dongseok, Director of Construction and Transportation at the provincial government, stated, "Once the connecting road opens, it will provide high-quality transportation services to residents and greatly enhance the connectivity between Sejong and Naepo New Town. Together with Yesan County, Gongju City, and the Multifunctional Administrative City Construction Agency, we will make every effort to ensure the project passes the preliminary feasibility study."
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