Expansion of Sidewalk Width and Improvement of Pedestrian Environment Next to Mokdong Elementary School in Yangcheon-gu

Continuous Promotion of Safe Traffic Environment in Child Protection Zones Including Installation of Speed Enforcement Cameras, Ground-Level Pedestrian Signals, and No-Parking Line Maintenance

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) has completed the expansion of the narrow sidewalk along the school route on the side road next to Mokdong Elementary School in Sinjeong 2-dong to create a safe and pleasant walking environment for children.

The sidewalk width of Sinmok-ro (from the main gate of Mokdong Elementary School to the back gate of Yuwon Mokdong Apartment, approximately 130m in length), the main school route for children living in Yuwon Mokdong Apartment near Mokdong Elementary School, was about 1.6m wide, making it narrow and inconvenient for pedestrians to pass each other, and difficult for vulnerable pedestrians such as those with strollers or wheelchairs to use.

Accordingly, the district planned to expand the sidewalk width up to 3.1m. From February to May, they conducted site surveys, design, and consultations with related organizations, and then carried out the construction from June to July, completing the improvements.

In this sidewalk expansion project, the narrow sidewalks were renovated, one-way traffic was implemented, and yellow integrated signs were installed to make it easier for drivers to recognize the school zone. Additionally, red pavement and road markings were added to enhance driver visibility, making the school route safer and more pleasant for children.

Since the amendment of the Road Traffic Act, known as the "Min-sik Act," in December last year, various projects to prevent child traffic accidents have been actively pursued.

First, with the mandatory installation of traffic lights and speed cameras in school zones, traffic lights and speed cameras are being installed at all 30 elementary schools in the area. Furthermore, ground-level pedestrian signals that light up at 12 crosswalk waiting lines near elementary schools will also be installed.

The ground-level pedestrian signals are expected to be highly effective in preventing traffic accidents involving pedestrians who walk while looking at smartphones. In addition, safety facility maintenance projects such as yellow carpets, speed warning systems, and parking prohibition line maintenance are continuously being carried out to prevent pedestrian traffic accidents.

Kim Soo-young, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, emphasized, “There were a total of 567 child traffic accidents in school zones last year. Improving the walking environment for vulnerable road users and maintaining traffic facilities are of utmost importance.” He added, “We will carefully monitor pedestrian safety to eradicate anxiety about accidents so that no more precious children are injured in traffic accidents.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.