Visibility of preparations for 2014 PyeongChang Winter Olympics grows

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2014 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games Bid Committee

2006-04-24 13:26

PyeongChang--(뉴스와이어)--A high-speed train and a new road, two key projects aimed at improving the speed, safety and reliability of transport to and from PyeongChang and nearby Olympic competition venues, are right on track.

The high-speed railroad spanning a 120-kilometer stretch passing through PyeongChang, will shorten the trip from the Seoul capital region, major Korean cities, and hub airports.

Two factors will contribute to significantly cut down travel times:

First, the train will run at speeds of 200 km per hour; second, it will benefit from a new 21-kilometer-long tunnel, the country’s longest, below the Daegwallyeong plateau in Gangwon Province.

The government budgeted 1.865 trillion won for the rail-and-tunnel project, which will link the Gangwon provincial cities of Wonju and Gangneung.

PyeongChang, Korea’s bid city for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, lies about halfway between these two cities, and will have its own station.

Korea Rail Corporation said that every aspect of the engineering project, in particular the double-track design, will be built to accommodate high- speed rail service. The new stretch would add to an existing network of Korea’s rapid and convenient bullet train services.

Rail officials said all plans would be finalized within this year, and the privately financed construction of the railroad will get under way in 2007.

In another positive move, travel between PyeongChang and the Jungbong ski area, venue for downhill ski competitions at the Winter Games, will also be smoother thanks to a new road coming in.

In early June, workers will begin laying fresh blacktop along a 7 1/4- kilometer route between the bid city of PyeongChang and the downhill ski area in the neighboring town of Jeongseon.

Some 82 billion won is earmarked for the road project, which will be completed by 2011, of which 10 billion won will be spent this year as officials select a construction firm.

The 2014 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games Bid Committee expects progress on these and other infrastructure works to be clearly visible in time for IOC Evaluation Commission visit to Korea next year as part of its on-site reviews of the 2014 Olympic candidate cities.

웹사이트: http://www.pyeongchang2014.org