Table of Contents
- The New Axis of Logistics and Tourism on the East Coast: Opening of Pohang~Yeongdeok Expressway
- Main Route Composition and Traffic Improvement Effects
- Construction Process and Technical Features
- Regional Economic Impact and Future Connectivity Outlook
- Conclusion: The Center of the East Coast Metropolitan Economic Belt, Pohang~Yeongdeok Expressway
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The New Axis of Logistics and Tourism on the East Coast: Opening of Pohang~Yeongdeok Expressway
The Pohang~Yeongdeok Expressway, connecting Pohang and Yeongdeok, will finally open on November 7.
The opening ceremony will take place at 2 PM on that day at the Pohang Rest Area, with major figures such as Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Yoon-deok, Gyeongsangbuk-do Governor Lee Cheol-woo, Pohang Mayor Lee Gang-deok, and Yeongdeok County Governor Kim Kwang-yeol, along with about 200 local residents.
This expressway is a four-lane road, 41.3 km in total length, connecting from Gukgang-ri, Heunghae-eup, Pohang, to Sangjik-ri, Ganggu-myeon, Yeongdeok. The project started in 2016 and was completed in nine years with a total budget of 1.6096 trillion won fully funded by the national government.
For detailed information on the route, IC locations, and design drawings, refer to the posting below.
Main Route Composition and Traffic Improvement Effects
The recently opened Pohang~Yeongdeok Expressway is part of the East Coast Expressway (Route 65), connecting from North Pohang IC to Yeongdeok Namsan IC. The main interchanges on this expressway include North Pohang IC, South Yeongdeok IC, and Yeongdeok JC, with rest areas located at Pohang Cheongha and Yeongdeok Namjeong for convenience.
This road includes 14 tunnels and 37 bridges, and particularly, the Pohang Cheongha Tunnel (5.4 km) has implemented GPS transmission technology for the first time in the country, enabling navigation systems to be used within the tunnel.
With the opening of this expressway, the travel time between Pohang Yeongilman Port and Yeongdeok Ganggu Port is expected to decrease from the current 42 minutes to 19 minutes, and traffic volume on National Route 7 is expected to decrease by over 40%. Such changes are projected to greatly enhance logistics efficiency.
Construction Process and Technical Features
The section connecting Pohang and Yeongdeok had a high degree of difficulty due to the rugged mountainous terrain.
Construction was delayed due to issues such as cultural heritage excavation, environmental complaints, and landslides; however, the Korea Expressway Corporation's Pohang-Yeongdeok Construction Division and contractors successfully completed the project through thorough quality and safety management.
In particular, cutting-edge technologies such as a real-time worker evacuation system, pre-work safety inspection certification, and vibration-reducing tunnel blasting methods were applied. Among these, the development of a foldable bridge inspection facility door won the grand prize at the Korea Expressway Corporation's competition, recognizing its outstanding technological capability.
These achievements are expected to have a positive impact on future construction projects.
Regional Economic Impact and Future Connectivity Outlook
The opening of this expressway is expected to reduce travel time between Yeongdeok and Daegu to around one hour. This will enhance connectivity with the Seoul metropolitan area, Chungcheong region, and Gangwon province, promoting the revitalization of the tourism industry and improvement of logistics flow.
According to KDI's analysis, the annual social benefit is projected to reach about 42 billion to 43 billion won. Additionally, the transportation efficiency between maritime logistics hubs such as Yeongilman Port and Ganggu Port is expected to increase by over 50%.
Especially with the completion of Yeongilman Bridge, a key transport corridor for maritime industry linking the Pohang National Industrial Complex, Yeongilman Port, and Ganggu Port will be established. It is expected that logistics costs will be reduced by about 7.4 billion won per year in this area, with a production inducement effect of 3 trillion won and the creation of 18,000 jobs.
Conclusion: The Center of the East Coast Metropolitan Economic Belt, Pohang~Yeongdeok Expressway
The opening of the Pohang~Yeongdeok Expressway is expected to provide an important turning point for the logistics, tourism, and industrial development of the East Coast region, beyond merely expanding the transportation network.
As this expressway completes the maritime industry axis connecting Pohang Yeongilman Port and Yeongdeok Ganggu Port, it is likely to revitalize a metropolitan economic belt that includes northern Gyeongbuk, as well as Busan and Ulsan.
This will greatly enhance accessibility from Busan and Ulsan to Pohang and Yeongdeok, establishing it as a crucial element of the north-south logistics network alongside the Donghae Line railway.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. When will the Pohang~Yeongdeok Expressway open?
The Pohang~Yeongdeok Expressway will open on November 7.
The Pohang~Yeongdeok Expressway, connecting Pohang and Yeongdeok, will officially open on November 7, 2023. The opening ceremony will be held at 2 PM on the same day at the Pohang Rest Area, with attendance from important figures, including the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and about 200 local residents.
Q. What are the main routes and facilities of the Pohang~Yeongdeok Expressway?
It is a 41.3 km four-lane road, featuring 14 tunnels, 37 bridges, and 2 rest areas.
This expressway has been established as a 41.3 km long, four-lane road from Gukgang-ri, Heunghae-eup, Pohang to Sangjik-ri, Ganggu-myeon, Yeongdeok. The main interchanges are North Pohang IC, South Yeongdeok IC, and Yeongdeok JC, with rest areas provided at Pohang Cheongha and Yeongdeok Namjeong for driver convenience. It includes a total of 14 tunnels and 37 bridges, and the Pohang Cheongha Tunnel has implemented GPS transmission technology for the first time in the country.
Q. How will travel times improve with the opening of the Pohang~Yeongdeok Expressway?
Travel time will be reduced from the existing 42 minutes to 19 minutes, more than halving.
Travel time from Pohang Yeongilman Port to Yeongdeok Ganggu Port will significantly decrease from the current 42 minutes to 19 minutes. In addition, the traffic volume on National Route 7 is expected to decrease by over 40%, greatly enhancing logistics and traffic efficiency.
Q. What technologies and challenges were present during the construction process?
Challenges from rugged mountainous terrain and environmental/cultural heritage issues were overcome with cutting-edge technology.
The section connecting Pohang and Yeongdeok had a high construction difficulty due to the mountainous terrain. Although delays were caused by cultural heritage excavations, environmental complaints, and landslides, it was successfully completed through rigorous quality and safety management. Cutting-edge technologies were applied, including a real-time worker evacuation system and vibration-reducing tunnel blasting methods. The foldable bridge inspection facility door, in particular, won first place at a competition held by the Korea Expressway Corporation.
Q. What impact will the Pohang~Yeongdeok Expressway have on the regional economy?
It will contribute to economic revitalization through logistics cost reductions, production inducement, and job creation.
The opening of this expressway is expected to yield annual social benefits of around 42-43 billion won, with transportation efficiency for marine logistics expected to increase by over 50%. In particular, upon the completion of Yeongilman Bridge, an annual logistics cost reduction of 7.4 billion won, a production inducement effect of 3 trillion won, and the creation of approximately 18,000 jobs are anticipated.
Q. What significance does the opening of this expressway hold for the development of the East Coast region?
It is expected to activate logistics and tourism industries as a central axis of the East Coast metropolitan economic belt.
The Pohang~Yeongdeok Expressway is not just an expansion of the transportation network but a turning point for the logistics, tourism, and industrial development of the East Coast. By completing the maritime industry axis connecting Yeongilman Port and Ganggu Port, it is expected to promote the activation of the metropolitan economic belt extending from northern Gyeongbuk to include Busan and Ulsan, establishing itself as a core axis of the north-south logistics network along with the Donghae Line railway.