The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs says the construction of about 110 km of expressway will be divided into two phases.

Phase one involves the stretch between Shiheung and Pyeongtaek where construction will begin as soon as the end of this month, to be completed by 2012.

Phase two, to link Pyeongtaek and Hongseong, will begin in 2013 and be completed by 2018.

The original West Coast Expressway constructed in 2001 linked Incheon and Mokpo, reducing travel time as much as four hours while saving at least W600 billion (US$1=W988) a year in distribution costs.

Arirang News