CHANGWON — South Gyeongsang Province will waive tolls on three privately financed roads under its jurisdiction from midnight on the 24th through midnight on the 27th, during the Chuseok holiday.
The waiver applies to the Machang Bridge, the Geoga Bridge and the Changwon-Busan road, which includes the Bulmosan Tunnel. All vehicles using these sections will travel toll-free. The measure follows the central government's Chuseok livelihood stabilization package. The government will also waive tolls on expressways nationwide over the same period.
The province expects about 660,000 vehicles to benefit during the holiday. For a passenger car making a round trip, the savings come to 20,000 won on the Geoga Bridge, 5,000 won on the Machang Bridge and 2,200 won on the Changwon-Busan road. The province said it expects the waiver to draw more visitors from outside the region, helping small business owners and neighborhood commercial districts.
The province is also stepping up safety preparations for holiday travel. Working with the private operators, it has completed advance inspections of major structures and safety facilities on the three roads. During the holiday, it will run an emergency duty system to handle heavier traffic and any urgent situations.
"I hope this toll waiver serves as a holiday gift that lightens the hearts of residents heading home," said Park Sung-jun, director general of the province's transportation and construction bureau. "We will maintain the emergency duty system through the holiday and manage road safety thoroughly so that people can use these roads safely and comfortably."
Separately, the Palyong Tunnel and the Jigae-Namsan road, both managed by Changwon, will also be toll-free over the same period.
