Park Gwanyul Pledges to End Taejeon and Gosan's Traffic Nightmare with Second Jikdong Tunnel

On May 6, Park Gwanyul, the Democratic Party candidate for mayor of Gwangju City, Gyeonggi Province, presented his vision for a "Great Transformation of Gwangju" through the supply of 30,000 new housing units and the development of an AI-powered smart city. He also unveiled his key transportation pledge for residents of the Taejeon and Gosan districts, who have long suffered from chronic traffic congestion. His "Direct Transportation Pledge" includes the construction of the Second Jikdong Tunnel and a new direct road connecting the inner areas of Taejeon and Gosan districts.

Park Gwanyeol, candidate for mayor of Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province. Provided by candidate Park Gwanyeol

원본보기 아이콘

Candidate Park pointed out, "While the Taejeon and Gosan districts have seen a rapid population surge due to the influx of large apartment complexes, the supporting transportation infrastructure remains at previous levels. The recurring traffic paralysis during commuting hours is seriously threatening the daily lives and quality of life for residents."

Currently, the main roads connecting Taejeon and Gosan to Seoul and Bundang are limited to National Routes 43 and 45 and the Taejae Pass, resulting in severe traffic bottlenecks.

Residents commonly report that, especially during rush hour, they face extreme congestion, effectively leaving them in a state of "transportation isolation."

Furthermore, existing roads have already reached saturation, and simply expanding them cannot meet current transportation demand. With no alternative bypass roads, the inconvenience for residents continues to intensify.

As a fundamental solution, Park proposed the construction of the Second Jikdong Tunnel, which would directly connect the Taejeon district and Seongnam Bundang via the shortest route.

This project aims to establish a new transportation corridor linking Taejeon through Yeongjangsan Mountain to Bundang Yatap, boosting logistics efficiency and dramatically improving residents' mobility.

Park said, "When the Second Jikdong Tunnel opens, travel time from Taejeon and Jikdong to Bundang will be drastically reduced, making the 'Ten-Minute Bundang Living Zone' a reality."

"By dispersing traffic currently concentrated on Taejae Pass and National Route 43, the overall traffic flow throughout Gwangju City will also see significant improvement," he emphasized.

He also presented concrete implementation plans to advance the project.

First, the optimal route connecting Taejeon district, Yeongjangsan Mountain, and Bundang Yatap will be swiftly finalized and included as the top priority in the city's Five-Year Road Construction and Management Plan. In addition, a feasibility study will be commissioned immediately to accelerate progress.

To facilitate cooperation with Seongnam City, where the tunnel exit will be located, Park plans to pursue a "Gwangju-Seongnam Road Construction Joint MOU." He also aims to enhance policy collaboration among mayors and lawmakers from both cities, all affiliated with the Democratic Party, to increase the project's viability.

At the same time, he intends to consider upgrading the route to a provincial or national road to secure financial support from Gyeonggi Province.

Park stated, "Gwangju's transportation issue can no longer be postponed-it's a matter of survival. By establishing a direct transportation network including the Second Jikdong Tunnel, I will give residents back their time and ensure Gwangju rises as a key self-sufficient city in the southeastern part of the Seoul metropolitan area."

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.