[Anchor]

A 3.26km-long sea bridge connecting Yeongjongdo and Sindo in Incheon has officially opened, five years after construction began. With this, the inconvenience for island residents who previously had to rely on ferries to reach the mainland has been resolved, and it is expected to significantly contribute to boosting tourism in the surrounding island areas.

Reporter Song In-ho has the story.

[Reporter]

Vehicles travel smoothly across the two-lane bridge.

This is the Sindo Peace Bridge, a 3.26km-long bridge connecting Yeongjongdo and Sindo in Incheon, which officially opened on the 14th, five years after construction began.

Equipped with a pedestrian path separated from the road, it allows people to cross on foot or by bicycle.

The opening of the bridge has eliminated the inconvenience for island residents who previously had to take a ferry to reach the mainland.

[Park Gwan-ho / Head of the Bukdo-myeon Village Heads Association, Ongjin-gun, Incheon: I am very excited and happy because we can now save time for students commuting to and from school and respond more effectively when emergency patients arise.]

Once on Sindo, visitors can also travel to Sido and Modo, which are already connected by bridges, raising expectations for an increase in tourist influx.

[Hong Chang-ju / Resident of Yeongjong-gu, Incheon: Walking across feels great, the breeze is nice, and it feels refreshing. I am planning to come back with my bicycle for a ride next time.]

In preparation for the increase in tourists during the summer vacation season, Incheon City and Ongjin-gun plan to widen the access roads to Sindo and expand shuttle bus services and temporary parking lots.

Additionally, city bus services to and from Sindo will officially begin in October.

[Park Chan-dae / Mayor of Incheon: Many of you are likely already concerned about how parking and waste issues on the island will be handled. Incheon City and Ongjin-gun will clearly divide our roles and prepare thoroughly.]

Following the opening of the Sindo Peace Bridge, Incheon City plans to accelerate the second phase of the West Sea Inter-Korean Peace Road project, which includes building a bridge connecting Modo to Jangbongdo, and eventually linking Sindo through Ganghwado to Kaesong and Haeju in North Korea.

(Video by Lim Dong-guk)