Expressways_in_South_Korea

Expressways in South Korea

Expressways in South Korea

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Expressways in South Korea (Korean: 대한민국의 고속도로; Hanja: 大韓民國의 高速道路; RR: Daehanmingukui gosokdoro), officially called as National expressways (Korean: 고속국도; Hanja: 高速國道; RR: Gosokgukdo), are owned by the govermment, and operated mostly by the Korea Expressway Corporation, and to a less extent by the private sector. They were originally numbered in order of construction. Since August 24, 2001, they have been numbered in a scheme somewhat similar to that of the Interstate Highway System in the United States; the icons of the South Korean Expressways are notably similar to those in the United States because they are shaped like U.S. Highway shields and colored like Interstate shields with red, white, and blue, the colors of the flag of South Korea.

  • Arterial routes are designated by two-digit numbers, with north–south routes having odd numbers, and east–west routes having even numbers. Primary routes (i.e. major thoroughfares) have 5 or 0 as their last digit, while secondary routes end in other digits.
  • Branch routes have three-digit route numbers, where the first two digits match the route number of an arterial route.
  • Belt lines have three-digit route numbers where the first digit matches the respective city's postal code.
  • Route numbers in the range 70–99 are not used in South Korea; they are reserved for designations in the event of Korean reunification.
  • The Gyeongbu Expressway kept its Route 1 designation, as it is South Korea's first and most important expressway.

Expressway arteries throughout South Korea
Approaching Seoul from Incheon Airport
Highway bus lane on Gyeongbu Expressway in the Republic of Korea

List of expressways

  • red backgrounds are not opened to traffic
More information Route No., Name ...

Numbering scheme until 2001

A numbering scheme of expressways in South Korea changed in 2001. Before 2001, roads are numbered as order of its approval (although not exactly same). This list below is the lines by the old scheme. Note that name, origin and terminus of some lines are changed with numbering scheme.

More information Route number, Route name ...

Access restrictions

Motorcycling restrictions

Overhead sign at a South Korean expressway entrance, "Auto-Only Way, Motorcycle Restricted"
Motor vehicles only sign and no motorcycles sign in South Korea at an expressway entrance

Since June 1, 1972, all motorcycles except police motorcycles are prohibited from driving on expressways in South Korea, regardless of engine displacement. Before 1972, motorcycles with an engine displacement greater than 250 cc were permitted on expressways.[2][3]

Since March 15, 1992, all motorcycles except police motorcycles have been banned from certain other roads designated for motor vehicles only.[4][5][6][7] These roads are marked by a circular blue sign with a white silhouette of a car.

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Abandoned
  2. [2]
    (in Korean) Prohibit the driving on Expressways for Three-wheeled Vehicles and Motorcycles May 23, 1972, Dong-a Ilbo
  3. [3]
    (in Korean) Prohibit the driving on Expressways for Three-wheeled Vehicles etc May 24, 1972, Maeil Business Newspaper
  4. [4]
    (in Korean) Article 58 the South Korea Road Traffic Act(Revised for December 14, 1991, Enforced from to March 15, 1992)
  5. [5]
    (in Korean) Article 63 of the South Korea Road Traffic Act(Revised for May 31, 2005 and April 28, 2006, Enforced from to June 1st 2006)
  6. [6]
    (in Korean) Article 63 of the South Korea Road Traffic Act(Revised for June 8, 2011, Enforced from to December 9, 2011)
  7. [7]
    Law Available in English, requires manual click, South Korea Road Traffic Act
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