Gumi City Center Bypass Road Opens on the 17th... "Expectations to Alleviate Chronic Congestion"

Construction started in November 2009... Project cost 222.5 billion KRW
Section from Seokjeok-myeon, Chilgok-gun, Gyeongbuk to Gupyeong-dong, Gumi-si

National Road Bypass within Gumi City (Photo by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Jiwon] A bypass road circumventing the frequently congested downtown area of Gumi City will open on the 17th.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on the 14th, the National Road No. 33 bypass within Gumi City, connecting Seokjeok-myeon in Chilgok-gun, Gyeongbuk, to Gupyeong-dong in Gumi City, will open from 3 p.m. on the 17th.

The road, which began construction in November 2009, involved a total project cost of 222.5 billion KRW over more than 10 years of construction.

Of the 7.4 km construction section, the Nakdong River crossing section (1.1 km) was opened first in December 2016 for local convenience. The road opening this time covers the remaining 6.3 km section.

With the bypass road in place, the traffic volume passing through the existing national road in downtown Gumi City is expected to decrease significantly, greatly alleviating the habitual congestion in the city.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport expects the driving distance through Gumi City to be reduced from the existing 18.1 km to 7.4 km, a reduction of 10.7 km, and travel time to be shortened from 43 minutes to 25 minutes, a 15-minute reduction.

Additionally, a foundation will be established to smoothly transport industrial cargo from the national industrial complex, reducing logistics transportation costs and resolving traffic inconveniences.

The Ministry is also constructing a new 6.8 km road section connecting Gupyeong-dong to Gupo-dong in Gumi City, which is scheduled to open by the end of June this year.

Kim Yong-seok, Director of the Road Bureau at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, "The road opening is expected to revitalize tourism in the Gyeongbuk region and promote regional economic development," and added, "We ask all drivers using the new road to drive safely, keeping in mind that it is a newly constructed route."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.