Yeonggwang-gun Opens 'Bulgapsan Highpass IC'... Reduced Travel Time

Published 30 Dec.2021 13:43(KST)

[Yeonggwang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jeonseong] Jeollanam-do Yeonggwang-gun (Governor Kim Junsung) announced on the 30th that on the 29th, it held an opening ceremony for the Bulgapsan Hi-Pass IC connecting Borari, Gunseo-myeon, Yeonggwang-gun to the Seohaean Expressway Yeonggwang Rest Area.

About 20 people attended the opening ceremony, including National Assembly member Lee Gaeho, Yeonggwang-gun Governor Kim Junsung, Yeonggwang-gun Council Chairman Choi Eunyoung, Gwangju Jeonnam Headquarters Director of Korea Expressway Corporation Eom Inseop, resident representatives, and related officials.

The construction of Bulgapsan Hi-Pass IC (downbound) was proposed to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in 2015, and the project scale and route were finalized through a construction project agreement between the county and Korea Expressway Corporation.

The county and Korea Expressway Corporation started construction in August 2019, investing a total project cost of 7.9 billion KRW over 2 years and 5 months, and held the opening ceremony the day before.

The opening allows only vehicles under 4.5 tons (including buses) equipped with Hi-Pass terminals to use the IC from 2 p.m. the day before.

Governor Kim Junsung said, “With the opening of Bulgapsan Hi-Pass IC, the convenience of using the expressway in the southern region will improve, and accessibility to major tourist sites such as Bulgap Theme Park and Bulgapsa District tourist sites will be greatly enhanced, which is expected to help reduce transportation and logistics costs and revitalize the local economy.”

Meanwhile, the upbound Bulgapsan Hi-Pass IC (Seoul direction) on the Seohaean Expressway is planned to be installed in Hakjeong-ri, Yeonggwang-eup, and the detailed design is currently underway, with construction scheduled to begin in the first half of next year.