Gyeonggi-do Improves 'Steep Slopes and Sharp Curves' into Safe 'Functional' Roads

23 Sections Linear Improvement, 21 Sections 'Small-Scale High-Function Projects' Promotion

Reference photo [Asia Economy DB]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Gyeonggi Province announced on the 4th that "starting this year, the 'Local Road Alignment Improvement Project' method will be significantly improved by shifting from an aesthetic-focused approach to a function improvement approach aimed at preventing traffic accidents."

According to the province, the 'Local Road Alignment Improvement Project,' which has been promoted mainly for aesthetics such as alignment improvement and straightening, will now be changed to focus on functional improvements such as geometric structure enhancement and safety facility reinforcement to reduce costs and increase project effectiveness.

The entire 66 sections (78.1 km) targeted by the existing 'Gyeonggi Province Local Road Alignment Improvement Project Plan (2017?2028)' underwent a comprehensive risk reassessment, and project sections and improvement methods were readjusted focusing on high-risk areas.

Excluding 9 sections where the project is already underway and 13 sections overlapping with other projects, the new project method will be introduced to 44 sections (68.7 km).

Among these, 23 high-priority sections will minimize straightening of curves and instead improve geometric structures and reinforce safety facilities such as speed prevention devices and guardrails.

In particular, by excluding overlapping projects, adjusting project sections, and changing project methods, it is expected to save 118.7 billion KRW (from 144 billion KRW to 25.3 billion KRW) compared to the originally planned budget.

For the remaining 21 sections, 67.1 billion KRW from the saved budget will be used to promote 'small-scale, high-function projects' that expand or improve waiting lanes or road structures instead of alignment improvements, aiming to improve traffic accident-prone sections.

'Waiting lane improvement' involves adding or extending left and right turn lanes in waiting lanes or changing the structure of connection ramps, while 'road structure improvement' involves modifying road structures such as tunnels or bridges considering both landscape and function.

The province plans to establish a 'Mid- to Long-term Plan for Local Road Alignment Improvement Projects (2024?2028)' for the 44 sections and sequentially promote the projects focusing on reinforcing traffic safety facilities, aiming for completion by 2028.

Park Seong-sik, head of the Road Safety Division, said, "We will do our best to implement a safe local road environment centered on traffic accident prevention and execute the budget without waste through a 'low-cost, high-efficiency' project approach."

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