Starting at midnight on the 18th, tolls on the Incheon Bridge will be reduced by about 63%.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said on the 16th that it had signed an amended implementation agreement with Incheon Bridge Co., Ltd., the project operator, to lower tolls in order to ease the public toll burden.

From the 18th, the toll for small vehicles (passenger cars) will be cut from 5,500 won to 2,000 won; for light vehicles from 2,750 won to 1,000 won; for medium vehicles from 9,400 won to 3,500 won; and for large vehicles from 12,200 won to 4,500 won.

Tolls on the Incheon International Airport Expressway (Yeongjong Bridge) were previously reduced in October 2023. With Incheon Bridge tolls also lowered, both expressways accessing Incheon Airport can now be used at rates below those at opening.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Yeongjong Bridge carries 130,000 vehicles per day, and from October 2023 through November this year the toll reduction produced a cumulative decrease in user burden of 320 billion won.

The reduction in Incheon Bridge tolls is expected to provide annual savings of about 1.72 million won for commuters.

Opened in 2009, Incheon Bridge was built through private investment and has continually drawn criticism for expensive tolls.

On the 25th of last month, the Private Investment Project Review Committee of the Ministry of Economy and Finance approved the amended implementation agreement for the Incheon Bridge private-investment project and decided to lower the tolls.

Losses to the private operator due to the price cut will be covered by a special-purpose company (SPC) jointly funded by Korea Expressway Corporation and Incheon International Airport Corporation.

Kim Hong-rak, Director-General for Airport Policy at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, “We will strive to ensure that even after the toll reduction, the safety and cleanliness of Incheon Bridge and Yeongjong Bridge are maintained at the highest level.”