Korea Expressway Corporation Expands Mandatory Direct Construction Ratio for Highway Construction Projects

Korea Expressway Corporation announced on the 8th that it plans to expand the mandatory ratio of the direct construction system for highway construction projects.

Korea Expressway Corporation Headquarters / Photo by Korea Expressway Corporation

The Corporation first introduced this system in 2019 as the first public institution to ensure safety construction and quality under the leadership of the primary contractor. Direct construction refers to the primary contractor directly carrying out the construction by deploying its own workforce, equipment, and materials. The ratio was set at about 10% of the total construction cost.

So far, the Corporation has applied the system to large-scale highway construction projects worth over 30 billion KRW. It is currently applied to a total of 6 routes and 19 sections, including Section 1 of the Asan-Cheongju Expressway between Inju and Yeomchi.

The Corporation plans to gradually expand the mandatory ratio of direct construction, considering the level of advanced countries (30% in the United States). This will target Class 1 facilities directly related to public safety, such as bridges over 500 meters and tunnels over 1 kilometer. Starting with the construction project of the Seosan-Yeongdeok Expressway between Daesan and Dangjin this year, the Corporation will review whether to further expand the mandatory ratio of direct construction for projects ordered from 2024 onward, after gathering opinions from construction companies.

A representative of the Corporation said, "Expanding the application of the direct construction system for highway construction projects is expected to contribute to improving driving safety through securing construction quality, enhancing technical skills, and stabilizing employment for construction workers. We will continue to strive to play a leading role in the advancement of the construction industry."

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