1,500 Drum Barrels Installed on Incheon Bridge Shoulder to Prevent Jumping

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hyowon] It is expected that 1,500 drums (PE drums) will be newly installed on the shoulder of Incheon Bridge to prevent jumping accidents.

On the 14th, according to the office of Democratic Party lawmaker Heo Jongsik, Incheon Bridge officials announced in a meeting with the lawmaker's office that they plan to install facilities to prevent parking and stopping in certain sections of Incheon Bridge.

Starting from the 17th, Incheon Bridge will install a total of 1,500 drums at 5-meter intervals along a 3 km section (6 km both directions) of the shoulder in high-risk areas such as the cable-stayed bridge and connecting bridge of Incheon Bridge. LED safety lights will be attached to the drums to ensure visibility during nighttime hours.

Additionally, Incheon Bridge plans to increase vehicle patrols from 24 times and 600 km per day to 26 times and 700 km per day, and on the 23rd, they will hold a meeting for cooperation with Incheon City, the Coast Guard, and the Incheon Suicide Prevention Center.

Incheon Bridge, the longest domestic bridge at 21.4 km connecting Yeongjongdo, where Incheon International Airport is located, and Songdo International City, has experienced continuous falling accidents since its opening in 2009.

According to data compiled by Incheon Bridge officials, a total of 65 falling accidents have occurred since the bridge opened, resulting in 54 deaths.

From 2016 to 2020, falling accidents were maintained at 2 to 5 cases annually, but surged to 11 cases last year.

This year, as of this month, a total of 20 people have jumped and 16 have died, setting a record high, including three deaths occurring consecutively over three days from the 4th to the 6th.

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