익산∼장수 구간의 개통으로 전라북도 북부와 동부산악지대가 연결되고, 영남 지역과의 광역교통망이 확보되었다.
With the opening of the Iksan-Jangsu section, the northern Jeollabuk-do and the eastern mountainous area were connected, and a wide-area transportation network with the Yeongnam region was secured.