Busan City Invests 13.5 Billion KRW in Road and Traffic System Improvement Projects

Busan City Hall.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] Busan City will invest a total of 13.5 billion KRW this year to improve roads and the traffic system.

The road and traffic system improvements are being implemented to prevent the recurrence of traffic accidents and to protect vulnerable road users.

Busan City is collaborating with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the National Police Agency, the Korea Road Traffic Authority, and local districts and counties to monitor and carry out improvement projects in areas with frequent traffic accidents or where road structure improvements are needed.

From 2002 to 2021, 31.3 billion KRW was invested in improving 'frequent traffic accident spots,' and 10.2 billion KRW was spent on installing roundabouts.

Last year, 11.4 billion KRW was invested to enhance smooth traffic flow and safety environments on city roads.

Analysis of traffic accident data from 2016 to 2018 showed that in 15 locations where improvement projects were carried out, such as the three-way intersection in front of Jurye Middle School in Sasang-gu and the intersection in front of Gijang Fire Station in Gijang-gun, the average number of accidents decreased by 21.6%, from 169.7 cases before the improvements to 133 cases.

This year, Busan City will implement road and traffic system improvement projects with an increased budget of 13.5 billion KRW, up 2.1 billion KRW from last year.

To prevent frequent traffic accident recurrences, 8.5 billion KRW will be spent to improve 15 'frequent traffic accident spots,' including Daecheong Intersection and Gudeok Intersection.

At three locations, including Waseok Underpass area and the intersection in front of Sanghyeon Village, existing intersections will be converted into roundabouts, and slopes and alignments of dangerous roads will be improved.

To enhance road efficiency, 4 billion KRW will be invested in seven projects in areas such as Haeundae-ro and Baekyang-daero, and in front of Gu-pyeong and Uam Elementary Schools to address traffic system issues.

Additionally, to prevent accidents involving the elderly at crosswalks, 1 billion KRW will be spent to install floodlights and traffic accident prevention facilities at 357 locations, including Dongdae Intersection and Baekyang-daero.

The city plans to continue encouraging the voluntary surrender of driver's licenses by elderly drivers, first implemented nationwide in 2018, and will conduct regular children's traffic safety education to prevent traffic accidents and ensure pedestrian safety.

Park Hyung-jun, Mayor of Busan, said, "As a result of continuing traffic safety policies, the number of traffic accident fatalities in Busan decreased by 37.1%, from 164 in 2017 to 103 last year. This year's projects will be carried out more thoroughly to prevent the recurrence of traffic accidents, resolve hazards, and protect vulnerable road users."

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