Seongnam-Seocho Expressway Preferred Bidder Selected to Ease Yangjae IC Congestion; 2034 Opening Targeted

South Korea is moving forward with a significant infrastructure project aimed at easing chronic traffic congestion around the Yangjae Interchange. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport announced on May 22 that it has selected the Hyosung Heavy Industries consortium as the preferred bidder for the Seongnam-Seocho elevated highway project. This initiative involves constructing a new 10.7-kilometer, four-lane highway. The route will connect the area near Pangyo, where the Gyeongbu Expressway and Yongin-Seoul Expressway intersect, to the Umyeon Mountain Tunnel. Officials anticipate that the new highway will significantly disperse traffic volume from the congested Yangjae Interchange area. This is expected to improve traffic flow for commuters traveling from southern Seoul metropolitan areas, including Seongnam and Pangyo, to the southwestern parts of the capital. The project is slated to commence construction in 2029, with an estimated completion date of 2034. The projected cost for this endeavor is approximately 561.2 billion won (about $400 million USD). Kim Hyo-jung, director of the Road Bureau at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, expressed confidence that the project will reduce travel times and enhance convenience for the public, while also strengthening the Gyeongbu Expressway's main transport function.

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This project is expected to alleviate chronic congestion around the Yangjae Interchange, reduce travel time for citizens, and practically improve road convenience.