Yeosu Hwatae~Baekya Yeondogyo Project Gains Momentum with Timely National Funding Injection

Published 19 Jan.2023 15:33(KST)

671 Billion KRW National Budget Reflected, Completion Target Set for 2027

[Yeosu=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Cheol-hoon] The Yeosu Hwatae~Baekya Road Construction Project (National Road No. 77), connecting Hwajeong-myeon Gaedo, Jedo, and Baekya Islands from Hwatae Island in Nam-myeon, Yeosu City, Jeollanam-do, is expected to proceed at a rapid pace.

According to Yeosu City (Mayor Jeong Gi-myeong), the Yeosu Hwatae~Baekya Road Construction Project (National Road No. 77) has a national budget of 67.1 billion KRW allocated this year and is scheduled for completion in 2027.

The road construction project connecting Hwajeong-myeon Gaedo, Jedo, and Baekyado from Hwataedo, Nam-myeon, Yeosu-si to Baekyado is expected to proceed at a rapid pace.
Photo by Yeosu City

The total length is 12.9 km, a two-lane road with four marine bridges including arch bridges, suspension bridges, and cable-stayed bridges to be constructed, with a project cost of 531.9 billion KRW.

The project is divided into two sections: ▲Section 1, a 6.05 km stretch from Hwatae Island in Nam-myeon to Gaedo in Hwajeong-myeon, is being constructed by POSCO Construction Co., Ltd., and ▲Section 2, a 6.91 km stretch from Gaedo in Hwajeong-myeon to Baekya Island, is being carried out by Kolon Global Corporation as the contractor.

Currently, the project progress is as follows: ▲In Section 1, Hwatae~Baekya Bridge 1 has completed the construction of the caisson foundation, and the material wharf to be used as a work site is under construction, and ▲in Section 2, Gaedo~Baekya, in-situ cast pile foundation work is underway.

Yeosu City formed a T/F team in April 2022 to ensure the temporary two-way opening of Hwatae~Baekya before the 2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo, focusing administrative efforts on rapid project promotion including budget securing, compensation support, and resolving civil complaints.

A city official said, “Once the Eleven Bridges (11 bridges) connecting the Hwayang~Goheung section opened in 2020 and Baekya~Hwatae are completed along with the Baekri Seomseom-gil, a world-class premium coastal drive course where visitors can fully enjoy the scenery of the Dadohae (archipelago) will be created,” adding, “It is expected to greatly contribute to regional economic development through the revitalization of wide-area tourism in the southern coast.”