World’s Seventh Longest Bridge Opens in Incheon

10-16-2009 18:14

World’s Seventh Longest Bridge Opens in Incheon

By Do Je-hae
Staff Reporter

Some say that it is one of the world's 10 construction wonders. Others point out that a round-trip over it is almost the same length as a marathon.

The 21.38-kilometer Incheon Bridge, by all accounts, is a man-made structure that exacts wow from onlookers. The completion of the cable-stayed bridge, the world's seventh longest, was celebrated Friday with President Lee Myung-bak on hand.

It will open to traffic Monday at 12:00 a.m., marking the completion of the $1.4-billion mega project that has taken more than four years. A fine example of Korea's engineering expertise, the bridge will serve as one of the nation's new symbols to the world, Incheon Mayor Ahn Sang-soo said.

A ceremony was held to mark the momentous opening of the landmark for Incheon and Korea. A special marathon took place over the weekend to celebrate the occasion.

The country's longest bridge connects the Songdo International Business District in the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ) to Yeongjongdo, where Incheon International Airport is located.

The average toll fee for driving on the six-lane bridge is 5,500 won, according to the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs (MLTM), Friday. Large vehicles will be subject to higher fees.

Constructed under the Build-Transfer-Operate (BTO) contracts, the bridge will expedite transportation from Incheon International Airport to Songdo International City by about 35 minutes. It will now be possible to get from the airport to the international city in around 15 minutes.

In connection with the surrounding national road network, the bridge is expected to significantly improve the traffic and logistics conditions in the metropolitan area. Previously, the route from southern Seoul to the city of Incheon has been poor, with commuters needing to take a long detour.

UK's Construction News has selected it as one of the world's 10 construction wonders. The mega project was largely completed off-site to overcome the challenges of working above water.

Korea has high hopes for its role in attracting more foreign businesses and tourists to the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ), currently under construction as one of the most dynamic and globalized urban areas in the country.

The centerpiece of the IFEZ is Songdo International City, 64 kilometers from Seoul. It is the largest development project of its kind in Korea and there are hopes it will become Northeast Asia's new multicultural center of business and education.

"The bridge is an instrumental infrastructure for the IFEZ. Its completion will undoubtedly advance the country's policy of becoming a business hub of Northeast Asia through a successful implementation of the IFEZ project," Lee Heon-seok, CEO of the IFEZ Authority, said in a statement.

By 2014, the free economic zone will house more than 300 Northeast Asian business headquarters, 30 international organizations including those affiliated with the United Nations and extended campuses of 15 foreign universities.

The IFEZ is considered to be a leader in terms of foreign investments and development, having six similar projects under way in various parts of the country ― including Busan, Daegu and Jeolla Province ― since 2003.

jhdo@koreatimes.co.kr