S. Korea's longest bridge opens off west coast

SEOUL, Oct. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's longest bridge opened Friday off the
country's west coast, paving the way for the government's ambitious drive to
become a key logistical hub in northeast Asia, the transport ministry said.
The 18.4-kilometer bridge connects the western port city of Incheon with
Yeongjong Island, where the nation's main gateway Incheon International Airport
is located, according to the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs.
The bridge is the longest ever built in South Korea and the seventh-longest in
the world. The world's No. 1 bridge in terms of length is the Lake Pontchartrain
Bridge in New Orleans that runs 38.4 kilometers, the ministry said.
Groundbreaking started in 2005 with a total of 2.45 trillion won (US$2.11
billion) having been injected since then. The bridge is expected to save around
40 minutes of transportation time between the airport and southern Seoul, while
reducing about 473.1 billion won in logistical costs annually, the ministry said.
"The bridge lays the groundwork for our drive to become a logistical hub in the
northeast Asian region," the ministry said in a statement. It will also likely
become an attraction for foreign tourists as its appearance blends well with the
natural environment, it added.
Various events will be held over the weekend, including a group bicycle ride, to
mark the opening of the bridge before it is made available to general traffic
next Monday, according to the ministry.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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