Starting July 2027; full toll elimination also pursued
Paju will eliminate tolls on the Ilsandaegyo Bridge during commuting hours for vehicles registered in the city, starting July 2027.
The city is holding working-level consultations with Gyeonggi Province, Goyang and Gimpo on a plan to cover commute-hour tolls on the bridge, with the goal of signing an MOU in the second half of this year.
The Ilsandaegyo Bridge is the only toll road among all bridges spanning the Han River. Gyeonggi Province has been subsidizing 50 percent of the bridge's toll since Jan. 1, 2026, committing 20 billion won ($14.8 million) to the effort.
Under the plan being negotiated, the remaining 50 percent of the toll would be covered by the three cities for vehicles registered in Paju, Goyang and Gimpo during morning rush hours — 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. — and evening rush hours — 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Gyeonggi Province is expected to lead the development of a settlement system to distinguish vehicles by their city of registration.
Each city's share will be determined by actual traffic volume. A Gyeonggi Province review found that Paju accounts for about 15 percent of total traffic on the bridge based on origin-destination data, meaning the city is expected to cover roughly 7.5 percent of the total toll — its share of the 50 percent not already subsidized by the province.
The city also plans to pursue full toll elimination in parallel. Gyeonggi Province and the three cities have been continuously requesting central government funding toward that goal, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has allocated 500 million won this year for a research project on eliminating Ilsandaegyo tolls entirely, with preparations for the study now underway.
"This policy is one of the key transportation initiatives of the ninth directly elected Paju administration, aimed at easing the commuting costs borne by residents and guaranteeing their right to mobility," Paju Mayor Son Bae-chan said. "It will help reduce residents' actual living expenses by relieving the toll burden during rush hours and contribute to creating more convenient conditions for wide-area travel."
Paju said it will strengthen cooperation with relevant agencies to expand transportation welfare that residents can feel directly, and will make thorough administrative preparations to ensure the rush-hour toll-free plan proceeds without a hitch. The city also plans to continue pushing for full toll elimination on the Ilsandaegyo Bridge over the long term.
pjh@heraldcorp.com
