What Caused Dobong-gu's Snow Removal Measures to Shine?

Dobong-gu to proactively install approximately 393m of heating cables at 6 locations selected for resident-participation budget projects in Chang 1-dong and 3 other neighborhoods on steep roads

Nohae-ro 44-gil Road with Installed Heating Cables

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Dobong-gu (Mayor Dongjin Lee)'s snow removal measures have proven effective.

During this cold wave advisory, the slopes between residential complexes, which would normally have been paralyzed by the overnight snowfall, were safely cleared for commuting.

This was thanks to the heating cables installed last year in advance.

Previously, when heavy snow fell on the slopes between residential areas in Chang-dong and Ssangmun-dong, safety accidents were a concern for both vehicles and pedestrians. Even when snow removal was attempted, the large snow removal vehicles caused traffic inconvenience, and the slippery slopes were difficult to access, requiring many personnel and deicing agents for long hours of work.

In response to these administrative challenges, local residents united their efforts. The 'Installation of Heating Cables on Steep Slopes for Snowfall Preparedness' was selected as a 2020 resident participation budget project.

Last summer, approximately 393 meters of heating cables were installed at six locations on steep roads in Chang 1-dong, Chang 3-dong, Ssangmun 3-dong, and Ssangmun 4-dong within Dobong-gu.

Although the district spent over 400 million KRW, the most valuable outcome was considered the residents' 'safety.'

On the evening of the 6th, despite the cold wave advisory and heavy snowfall, cars and residents passed through the heated sections without slipping. As snow removal became easier in these limited-resource areas, efforts to clear snow in other locations were also expedited.

Dobong-gu currently operates a total of nine locations with heating cables: three sites installed as a pilot project in 2019 (Dungeundal Children's Park, Ssangmun Market Entrance, in front of Ssangmun 3-dong Community Center) and six additional sites installed in 2020 (Nohae-ro 44-gil, Nohae-ro 48-gil, Nohae-ro 49-gil, Deokrung-ro 60-gil, Dobong-ro 109-gil, Haedeung-ro 3-gil).

According to district officials, the heating cables automatically activate when the road surface temperature is 2℃ (±0.1℃) or below and rain or snow is detected. Dobong-gu plans to install additional heating cables in Ssangmun 1-dong through the 2021 resident participation budget.

Additionally, Dobong-gu operates 27 remote liquid spraying devices controlled via the CCTV Integrated Control Center to monitor real-time snowfall and snow removal status for initial snow removal at vulnerable points. Snow removal vehicles are equipped with GPS and maintain real-time coordination with the Disaster Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.

Currently, Dobong-gu is actively utilizing smart city functions to reinforce vulnerable disaster points.

Mayor Dongjin Lee, who personally visited and encouraged the employees working on snow removal that day, stated, "This is a symbolic case demonstrating bottom-up administration powered by resident autonomy and local decentralization. We will listen to the voices of residents enduring the double hardship of COVID-19 and the cold wave together with field officials and proactively respond to disaster situations to make Dobong safer."

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