Seohaean Expressway
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LocationBaeksan-myeon, Dongjin-myeon, Buan-eup, Jusan-myeon, Boan-myeon, Julpo-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- CategoryTransportation
- Korean서해안 고속 도로
- Chinese西海岸高速道路
- Nickname고속 국도 제15호선
- FieldGeography / Human Geography
- Contents TypePlace Name / Road & Bridge
- Stopping Area in BuanBaeksan-myeon, Dongjin-myeon, Buan-eup, Jusan-myeon, Boan-myeon, Julpo-myeon, Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do
- Definition
- An expressway connecting Geumcheon-gu, Seoul and Muan-gun, Jeollabuk-do by way of Sin-ri, Julpo-myeon and Geumpan-ri, Baeksan-myeon in Buan-gun
- Origin of the Name
- On July 25, 1991, the National Road No. 11 was re-named into Seohaean Expressway in accordance with the Presidential Executive Order No. 13433 to “designate the name of the National Expressway.” In 2001, with the addition of the section of road from Seoul to Ansan, the departure and arrival points were changed from Incheon-Muan to Muan-Gwangmyeong/Seoul, and the route number of the National Road No. 11 was changed to the Expressway No. 15.
- Data
- The total length of Seohaean Expressway is 336.65 ㎞. The section from Mokpo to Seocheon has four-lanes, and from Seocheon to Siheung features eight-, six- and four-lanes. The speed limit for the whole stretch of road is 110 ㎞/h at a maximum and 60 ㎞/h at a minimum. The length of the section in Buan-gun is 22.63 ㎞ with four-lanes. The north-south bound road passes Julpo-myeon (Daedong-ri), Boan-myeon (Haipseok-ri, Sangnim-ri, Bugok-ri), Jusan-myeon (Dongjeong-ri, Sosan-ri, Galchon-ri, Soju-ri, Deoknim-ri), Buan-eup (Naeyo-ri, Ongjung-ri, Haengjung-ri, Mosan-ri, Sinun-ri), Dongjin-myeon (Hajang-ri), and Baeksan-myeon (Juknim-ri, Geumpan-ri).
- Background of Construction
- The expressway was constructed with the purpose to establish the groundwork for logistics and the balanced development of the nation centered on the recent prosperity of the western coast that caters to the increased trade volume with China.
- Development
- Its construction began on December 27, 1990 and completed on December 21, 2001. The opening of the last 113.8 km-long section of road, from the Muan Interchange passing through the Buan-gun and Donggunsan Interchange, marked the completion of Seohaean Expressway. The endpoint was then changed to Geumcheon-gu, Seoul and has been so until now.
- Current Status
- As of 2019, the daily average traffic volume of Seohaean Expressway is 455,453 cars, and the daily revenue from tollgate usage amounts to KRW 88.9 million. The daily average traffic volume of the Buan Interchange is 2,822 cars in 2019, and was 2,770 cars in 2020, compared with that of the Julpo Interchange at 1,359 cars in 2019 and 1,328 cars in 2020. Together they account for 0.92% of the total traffic volume of the entire Seohaean Expressway. The daily average traffic volume of the section between the Buan Interchange to Julpo Interchange is 24,316 cars on weekdays and 31,695 cars on weekends in 2019.