Gangjin, Gurye, Yeongdong, Cheongyang, and Hwacheon
selected as project sites for 2022 via public contest
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT, Minister NOH Hyeong-ouk) has announced that it has selected 5 locations for the project on creating smart rest stops on national highways with the aims of providing safe and convenient service facilities to road users and revitalizing the local economy.
A smart rest stop is an upgrade version of a roadside rest stop for drowsy drivers consisting of regional promotion facilities - such as local product and specialty shops - and advanced technologies - such as IoT, renewable energy, and eco-friendly vehicles.
Starting with 5 locations in 2020, 8 additional sites were selected in 2021, making the total number 13. The 13 smart rest stops are being designed and constructed as of now, with the aim of completing 5 of them by the end of 2022 and the rest by the end of 2023.
A total of more than KRW 3 billion (KRW 2 billion funded by the central government and KRW 1 billion by the local government) will be invested for each site.
For seamless construction and successful operation of the smart rest stops, MOLIT will work with national research institutes and the academia to create architectural designs that are in harmony with the surrounding landscape. Also, the Ministry plans to find ways to engage local residents in the operation of smart rest stops to enhance sustainability.
Within March and April, the procedural framework for the project implementation will be prepared through agreements signed between local governments and competent road management agencies, and detailed designs for each rest stop will be drafted from May.
“The project on building smart rest stops on national highways aims beyond the objective of existing road policies: convenience and safety of road users. The goal of this project is to directly contribute to the local economy and community welfare by utilizing road infrastructure, creating a new business model,” said Director Kim Chul-ki of MOLIT Road Management Division.
“MOLIT will work closely with the local authorities in selecting the right locations for the project, and will continue such collaboration to ensure seamless operation of smart rest stops in the future.”
Please refer to the attached PDF.