Table of Contents
- Gadeokdo New Airport's opening in 2029 likely to be canceled; Hyundai Engineering consortium proposes 9-year construction period
- 84 months vs 108 months for construction period, which is realistic?
- Conflict of interests between government, Busan city, and construction companies
- Reasons why a safe construction period is needed
- Conclusion and summary
Gadeokdo New Airport's opening in 2029 likely to be canceled; Hyundai Engineering consortium proposes 9-year construction period
The opening schedule for the Gadeokdo New Airport, a long-awaited project in Busan, seems increasingly difficult to meet the original target of December 2029.
As the Hyundai Engineering consortium, selected as the preferred bidder, has adjusted the proposed construction period from 7 years to 9 years (108 months), the likelihood of postponing the opening schedule by at least 2 years has significantly increased.
With deepening disagreements among Busan city, the government, and construction companies, realistic project management has become more important than ever.
In a previous post, I predicted the difficulty of meeting the 2029 opening, and this concern is now coming to fruition. If construction begins in 2026 with a 9-year period, completion is expected around 2035.
84 months vs 108 months for construction period, which is realistic?
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport proposed a construction period of 84 months during the bidding process; however, the consortium claims that 108 months will be required due to reasons such as ground stability and floating reclamation methods.
Additionally, they have indicated that construction costs could increase by about 1 trillion won, exceeding the government's budget of 10.5 trillion won. They have explained that this is an unavoidable measure to ensure safety and construction quality, but the government sees this as a "violation of the national contract law" and is demanding immediate corrections.
Conflict of interests between government, Busan city, and construction companies
The government emphasizes the promise of opening in 2029 and has mentioned the possibility of re-bidding if there is no response to design revisions.
In contrast, Busan city is pressuring for "swift commencement," as it is closely related to the local economy.
Construction companies are likely to revise designs to maintain their negotiating contract status; however, as conflicts between safety and responsibility issues deepen, clear solutions are not in sight.
Even if re-bidding occurs, there is doubt about whether any construction companies will participate, which is expected to further delay the start of construction.
Reasons why a safe construction period is needed
The construction of the new airport is a large-scale project that involves building various infrastructures simultaneously, such as runways, taxiways, passengers, and cargo terminals. Hastening the design and construction process could increase the risks of ground subsidence, structural defects, and safety accidents during initial operation. For example, in the case of Muan International Airport, the additional repair costs and loss of trust due to poor construction ultimately burdened the citizens and local community.
Personally, rather than hastily reducing the construction period, I believe establishing a realistic 9-year construction period and conducting thorough quality and safety management is a more economically and safely sound choice in the long run. In practice, even if starting with a short 7-year construction period, it is common for large civil engineering projects to be delayed by 2 to 3 years or more. Rushing to meet the timeline poses a significant risk of undermining the reliability of an airport that will operate for decades. A cautious approach is required in this aspect.
Conclusion and summary
While the goal for the opening of Gadeokdo New Airport was set for 2029, it's becoming evident that this schedule is realistically unavoidable to adjust. The proposed 9-year construction period by the Hyundai Engineering consortium argues for it as a minimum condition for safe construction, struggling amidst the political and economic expectations of the government and Busan city.
Future reviews by the Central Construction Technology Review Committee and the results of design revisions will ultimately determine the completion timeline. Above all, as a national infrastructure, a realistic roadmap prioritizing safety and quality over speed is required. This is an essential approach for the successful completion of the project.
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