Eunpyeong-gu Develops Trenchless Underground Wiring Method for Alleyways

Innovative Improvement Plan for Undergrounding Process of Overhead Distribution Lines... Promoting Trenchless Undergrounding Using Subsurface of Pedestrian and Vehicle Boundary Stones

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) has prepared a revolutionary improvement plan for the undergrounding method of overhead distribution lines and plans to apply it in the field in earnest.

'Undergrounding of overhead distribution lines' refers to burying the wires tangled like a spider web on utility poles and above ground into the ground.

The existing undergrounding method for overhead distribution lines requires a minimum excavation space of 4 meters or more on the road, as well as above-ground space for Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) transformers and switches. Additionally, since underground facilities such as water supply and drainage, and city gas are installed, undergrounding projects have been considered practically impossible in residential back roads or alley sections except for major arterial roads.

Nevertheless, inconvenience caused by obstructive utility poles in residential back roads has been increasing, and complaints demanding undergrounding projects have surged, but solutions were not easy.

Accordingly, Eunpyeong-gu has been continuously considering solutions for undergrounding alleyways since 2017, and after dozens of communications with related organizations (SK TNS), they developed a non-excavation undergrounding method using the lower part of the road curb.

Firstly, by installing high-strength compressed boundary blocks made of recycled plastic to replace the frequently damaged granite curbstones, damage to the boundary blocks is minimized. Secondly, the existing excavation width (about 1.2m) is minimized to less than 0.3m, enabling undergrounding even in narrow sections.

Eunpyeong-gu and SK TNS are currently monitoring a pilot project in some sections of Seoul city using the non-excavation undergrounding method under the sidewalk curbs. It is expected that when this non-excavation undergrounding method is fully implemented, budget savings (about one-third of the existing construction cost) and construction period reduction (about half of the existing construction period) will be achieved dramatically.

An official from Eunpyeong-gu stated, "This improvement plan was selected for the 2020 Eunpyeong-gu Creativity Excellence Award and received the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Best Award for Active Administration for the active relocation project of obstructive utility poles scattered in alleyways. Eunpyeong-gu has made great efforts to secure pleasant pedestrian paths." He added, "Going forward, after consultations with telecommunication operators, we expect that prioritizing the introduction of the non-excavation undergrounding method for obstructive utility poles in residential alleyways where fire truck access is difficult will greatly improve the residential environment."

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