Honam Expressway 'Gimje~Samnye Expansion Project' Passes Feasibility Reassessment

Target Opening in 2028... Total Project Cost 337.2 Billion KRW, Up 46.7%

Saemangeum, Improved Accessibility to Innovation City... Revitalizing Local Economy

The feasibility re-investigation of the 'Honam Expressway Gimje~Samnye Section Expansion Project,' which caused traffic congestion due to bottlenecks, has passed government review.

According to Jeonbuk Province on the 22nd, the Ministry of Economy and Finance held a Financial Project Evaluation Committee meeting on the same day and deliberated and approved the feasibility re-investigation results of the Honam Expressway Gimje~Samnye section expansion project, one of the long-standing wishes of Jeonbuk residents.

The feasibility re-investigation results show that the total project cost increased by 46.7% from 229.9 billion KRW at the preliminary feasibility study to 337.2 billion KRW.

The Honam Expressway Gimje~Samnye section expansion project was included as a key project in the '1st Expressway Construction Plan (2016?2020)' in January 2017. The project aims to expand the 18.3 km section from Gimje IC in Geumgu-myeon, Gimje City to Samnye IC in Wanggung-myeon, Iksan City from the existing 4 lanes to 6 lanes, targeting opening in 2028.

The feasibility re-investigation was conducted because the total project cost increased by more than 15% during the basic design process after passing the preliminary feasibility study in August 2020, in accordance with the total project cost management guidelines.

Location map of the Honam Expressway Gimje~Samnye section expansion project.
[Photo by Jeonbuk Province]

This increase is due to safety enhancements considering the basic river maintenance plan, including ▲bridge plan changes ▲incorporation of temporary construction facilities and temporary bridges ▲application of drainage facility design standards ▲additional noise barriers, resulting in a total project cost of 301.7 billion KRW excluding inflation and land price increases, which is a 31.2% increase compared to the preliminary feasibility study.

The province has continuously urged the government for the prompt advancement of the Honam Expressway Gimje~Samnye section expansion project.

Upon passing the feasibility re-investigation, explanations were made to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and KDI highlighting ▲alleviation of habitual congestion during weekday rush hours and weekends ▲early settlement of large-scale national projects such as Innovation City, Saemangeum development, and the National Food Cluster to revitalize the regional economy ▲the necessity to respond to increased traffic volume following the opening of the Saemangeum~Jeonju Expressway in 2025 and Saemangeum International Airport in 2029.

Additionally, at the Infrastructure Subcommittee policy evaluation held at KDI on the 6th, it was appealed that "SOC expansion is urgently needed for the regional development of Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province, which was launched in January this year, and the prompt advancement of the expressway expansion project is a long-cherished wish of Jeonbuk residents."

The Honam Expressway is a key expressway network connecting the Honam region to the Chungcheong area and the Seoul metropolitan area, having been opened in 1970, marking 54 years since. Due to poor alignment, it is vulnerable to traffic accidents, and it currently operates with 8 lanes from Nonsan Junction to Iksan Junction and 6 lanes from Iksan Junction to Samnye Interchange.

However, the 18.3 km section from Gimje to Samnye has only 4 lanes. Due to the reduction in the number of lanes, bottlenecks have caused habitual traffic congestion during rush hours, causing long-term inconvenience for expressway users.

With the passage of this feasibility re-investigation, the Honam Expressway Gimje~Samnye section will be expanded from 4 lanes to 6 lanes, which is expected to resolve habitual traffic congestion by increasing road capacity. It is also anticipated to contribute to improved accessibility to major industrial facilities such as Saemangeum, Innovation City, and the National Food Cluster. Additional effects such as job creation in the region and expanded opportunities for local construction companies to secure orders are also expected.

The province plans to promptly proceed with subsequent procedures such as total project cost negotiations, detailed design, and construction to promote balanced regional development.

Kim Kwang-su, Director of the Construction and Transportation Bureau, stated, "With increasing investment attraction in Saemangeum and the launch of the Special Self-Governing Province, we will actively respond to ensure timely expansion of key regional SOC so that the 2028 opening target is not delayed."

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