New Ring Road Set for Ullungdo

Ullungdo, the remote volcanic island in the East Sea, will finally get its long-time dream, a new road completely encircling the island.
Islanders hope the 44.2-kilometer road will draw more tourists to the rugged island, known for its seafood, Tokdo cable car, wind generator station, when it is finished in late 2000.
The road's construction was initiated in 1993 at a cost of 63 million dollars. The two-lane road is six meters wide and includes nine tunnels. The speed limit is between a modest 20 to 50 km per hour.
An official at Hwasung Construction, which is building the road, stated, 'Tourists felt inconvenienced without a good road circumnavigating the island, but the road is almost ready to open.'
The reason construction is taking so long is because of the rugged topography of the island.
Construction advanced only one kilometer per year at times as it proceeded through treacherously steep passages. Not only was a tremendous amount of stone needed to be removed, but the island's only connection to the outside world, a ferry, could not come everyday to bring necessary equipment due to frequent bad weather.
Ullung Island residents are expecting more tourists to come after the road's completion.
Hwahik Bong : trojans@joongang.co.kr