Ulsan Outer Ring Expressway Construction Begins; Completion as Early as 2031

【Financial News, Ulsan = Reporter Choi Soo-sang】 The Ulsan Outer Ring Expressway, which will significantly shorten east-west travel times in Ulsan, has entered full-scale construction. This comes 16 years after the project was included in the national plan in 2010.
According to the city of Ulsan on the 15th, the Ulsan Outer Ring Expressway will be built as a four-lane road with a total length of 15.1 km, connecting the newly constructed Miho Junction (JCT) on the Gyeongbu Expressway in Duseo-myeon, Ulju-gun, with Gada Interchange (IC) in Buk-gu.
The total project cost was initially set at 724 billion won, but was finalized this year at 1.2059 trillion won, an increase of about 65% from the original estimate.
Major facilities include Miho Junction (JCT) on the Gyeongbu Expressway, Dudong Hi-Pass Interchange (IC) and Gada Interchange (IC). The project will also include 12 bridges with a total length of 1.84 km and five tunnels with a total length of 5.49 km.
The Ulsan Outer Ring Expressway is expected to be completed as early as 2031. It will then connect to the Nongso–Gangdong Road (Gada IC–Gangdong IC), which is reserved for motor vehicles. Construction of this road began in October 2024. It will be built as an 11.1-km, four-lane, two-way road from Sangan in Buk-gu, through Hogye, to Gangdong Interchange on National Route 31.

Once both roads open, travel time from Duseo-myeon, Ulju-gun, on the Gyeongbu Expressway, to Gangdong in Buk-gu will fall from one hour to 20 minutes. This is expected to reduce logistics costs and strengthen the competitiveness of companies in Ulsan’s large industrial complexes.
The project is also expected to improve freight transport conditions on Saneop-ro in downtown Ulsan, which suffers from chronic congestion, and to boost the local economy by improving access to the area around Buk-Ulsan Station and the Gangdong Tourist Complex.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Ulsan Outer Ring Expressway was held on the 13th at Hamwol Community Sports Field in Jung-gu. In his commemorative remarks, Ulsan Deputy Mayor for Administrative Affairs Seo Nam-gyo said, “Because of its geographical characteristics, Ulsan has high demand for east-west travel, but a lack of arterial roads has caused traffic congestion downtown and made freight transportation difficult.” He added, “We will bring all the city’s capabilities to bear to ensure that this Ulsan Outer Ring Expressway project, which will transform Ulsan’s transportation network, is completed safely and flawlessly within the planned timeframe.”

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