In Jeollanam-do, Gyeongbuk, Chungbuk, and other regions, 14 routes previously managed as local roads will be upgraded to national roads and national support local roads. Going forward, the state will directly construct and manage them.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 9th that it will newly designate 8 sections (269.9 km) of national roads and 6 sections (83.9 km) of national support local roads to enhance the function of inter-regional arterial roads and improve traffic conditions. The designated routes will be announced on the 11th.
National roads are arterial roads connecting major cities, airports, and industrial complexes, which are fully managed by the state. National support local roads are designed to supplement the national arterial network and receive 100% of design costs and 70% of construction expenses funded by the state.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport expects that this upgrade will guide vehicles passing through urban areas, such as Seongsan-myeon in Gangneung, the town of Damyang, and Mujang-myeon in Gochang, to the outskirts, alleviating traffic congestion. With state support enabling road expansions and geometric improvements like steep gradients and sharp curves, the traffic handling capacity will increase, resulting in a greater dispersion effect compared to existing local roads. Furthermore, accessibility to the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport, Gyeongju tourist sites, and underdeveloped areas such as Goheung and Tongyeong is also expected to improve significantly.
The designation of this route was pursued by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport through a demand survey conducted among local governments nationwide starting in 2023. The final selection of the 14 sections was made after evaluative criteria, such as traffic volume, accessibility to industrial complexes, and regional balanced development, were assessed through expert consultations and discussions with relevant agencies.
Lee Woo-je, the director of the Road Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, noted, "We anticipate effects such as improving the convenience of transportation for the public through alleviating traffic congestion and activating the local economy by reducing logistics expenses," adding, "We will continue to do our best to build and manage the arterial road network to improve road consolidation."