Gyeongnam Province Urges Road Corporation: "Let's Quickly Establish a U-Shaped Expressway Network!"

by Lee Seryeong

Published 13 Apr.2023 17:51(KST)

Updated 07 Aug.2025 15:45(KST)

Proposals for Strengthening 1-Hour Living Zone and Exchanges Within the Province

On the 13th, Gyeongsangnam-do visited the Korea Expressway Corporation headquarters to urge the early establishment of the U-shaped expressway network.

Gyeongnam Province proposed major pending projects such as the U-shaped expressway network to form a one-hour single living zone within the province and to strengthen exchange functions in industry, culture, and tourism.

According to the province, the proposals included ▲early construction of the Geoje-Tongyeong Expressway linked with the Island Highway, the central axis of the South Coast tourism belt, and ▲expansion of the Namhae Expressway from Sacheon IC to Hadong IC.

For regional balanced development and linkage with the Southern Inland Railway, the proposals also included ▲early opening of the Hamyang-Ulsan Expressway and ▲extension of the north-south 6-axis starting point of the Jincheon-Hapcheon Expressway (Jincheon-Hapcheon + Uiryeong·Goseong).

Requests were also made for the prompt promotion of expressways linked with Jinhae New Port and Gadukdo New Airport, including ▲Busan New Port-Kimhae ▲Kimhae Airport IC-Daedong JCT ▲Chilwon JCT-Changwon JCT ▲Changwon JCT-Jinyeong JCT ▲Daedong JCT-Yangsan JCT.

Current Status Map of Expressway Projects in Gyeongnam Province. [Image provided by Gyeongsangnam-do]

To establish a connected road network for Gadukdo New Airport and Jinhae New Port, the province focused on proposing the extension of the Kimhae-Miryang Expressway to Changwon so that it can be reflected in the preliminary feasibility study scheduled for the second half of this year.

Regarding the review service for the efficiency of local government private road operation and management promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the province also asked for interest in upgrading Geogadaero, the gateway road to Gadukdo New Airport, to an expressway to complete the U-shaped road network including the South Coast.

Kim Young-sam, Director of the Transportation and Construction Bureau, said, “We will closely cooperate with central government ministries, the National Assembly, Korea Expressway Corporation, and other related organizations to ensure that major expressway projects in the province, such as the extension of the Kimhae-Miryang Expressway to Changwon and the early construction of the Geoje-Tongyeong Expressway, can be promoted early, and that the U-shaped metropolitan road network in Gyeongnam Province is established.”