Incheon Bridge to Serve as
Gateway toward Prosperity

Ground was broken for the construction of the nation's longest bridge in June this year. The Incheon Bridge, linking the Incheon International Airport and the international business district of New Songdo City, will be longer than the current Seohae Bridge and reckoned among the five longest in the world.
The construction of the 12.3-kilometer toll bridge is scheduled to take 52 months and be completed in 2009.
The South Korean government expects the 1.25 trillion won project will serve as a cornerstone for the nation's drive to become the logistics and business hub for Northeast Asia.
The ceremony was attended by 2,000 officials and residents, including President Roh Moo-hyun, Finance Minister Han Duck-soo and Construction Minister Choo Byung-jik.
"We will speed up infrastructure development and boldly do away with unreasonable regulations so Incheon can serve as the gateway to the country's prosperity by 2009 when construction of Incheon Bridge is completed,?Roh said at the groundbreaking.
Roh also said the government will expedite deregulation and infrastructure buildup to ensure the successful development of the Incheon Free Economic Zone.
KODA Development, a joint venture between Britain-based AMEC and the city of Incheon, will finance and manage the project, while Samsung Joint Venture, a group of seven domestic builders, will take charge of the construction. Samsung, Daelim, Daewoo, Hanjin, Hanwha, Kumho and GS are partners in the group.
Once the construction is completed, KODA Development will manage the bridge for 30 years and later return the facility to the Korean government.
When Incheon Bridge opens in 2009, it is expected to take 40 minutes less from southern Seoul or the south of the capital to reach Incheon International Airport, according to the Ministry of Construction and Transportation. nw

President Roh Moo-hyun and other dignitaries press the button to break ground for the construction of the planned Incheon Bridge, the nation's longest one.