Seongdong-gu Restores 60 Sites Jointly to Prevent Sinkholes... Dongjak-gu Completes Smart City Project

[Seoul District News] Seongdong-gu Completes Joint Survey of 120.57km Roads with Underground Facilities Over 500mm Diameter
Restoration of 60 Cavities Completed & Plans to Survey Remaining 75km Next Year... Dongjak-gu Installs Smart Poles and Smart Crosswalks on Sadang-ro, Sangdo-ro, Hyeonchung-ro 'Smart Sheet Solution Project Completed' Enhancing Smart City Experience... Gangseo-gu to Operate 55 Warmth Sharing Shelters by March Next Year... Gangdong-gu Expands School Zones by 532 Areas to Create Safer Walking Environment

Restoring the discovered underground road space with backfill material

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) announced that it has completed the investigation and restoration of underground voids (空洞) beneath roads during a preliminary survey conducted to prevent sinkhole (ground subsidence) accidents such as road collapses.

Seongdong-gu conducted surveys on 120.57 km of roads within the district where underground facilities with a diameter of 500mm or more are buried, identifying 60 voids (空洞) that cause ground subsidence and completed their restoration.

Voids (空洞) refer to empty spaces formed beneath the road pavement in underground spaces. The main causes include ▲damage to aging underground facilities ▲insufficient compaction work during road excavation and restoration ▲inadequate waterproofing measures against groundwater around construction sites. Voids formed by these causes cause road collapses as the pavement sinks over time.

Recently, sinkhole accidents have frequently occurred nationwide, raising residents' concerns. In response, Seongdong-gu deployed GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) equipment to conduct underground void surveys on 120.57 km of roads within the district to create a safe traffic environment for residents.

For the 60 voids identified through the survey, drilling and endoscopic video inspections were conducted, and 46 sites were restored using flowable filling materials. For voids of large scale or caused by aging underground facilities, excavation and permanent restoration were performed to eliminate risk factors.

An official from the district stated, “Next year, after completing the remaining 75 km of void surveys, we will conclude the first phase of the sinkhole prevention project conducted annually since 2020, and plan to conduct underground void surveys every five years thereafter.”

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “Preventing safety accidents beforehand is more important than after-the-fact measures. We will continue to alleviate residents' concerns through periodic void inspections and strive to make Seongdong-gu a safe place.”

Dongjak-gu (Mayor Park Il-ha) has completed the ‘Smart City Solution Expansion’ project on Sadang-ro and Sangdo-ro sections to create a safe traffic environment.

Through this project, a total of 5.1 km across five sections from Sadang-ro (Namseong Station) to Sangdo-ro (Sindaebang Samgeori Station) were equipped with ▲40 smart poles ▲27 smart crosswalks ▲5 smart rest areas.

‘Smart Poles’ are urban infrastructure integrating intelligent CCTV, sensors for illegal parking and stopping, and other functions into streetlights, enhancing pedestrian safety and convenience. Data collected from smart poles will be used to develop customized traffic policies.

Also, ‘Smart Crosswalks’ feature voice guidance to prevent jaywalking and floor LED traffic signals, which have been evaluated to effectively reduce traffic accidents.

‘Smart Rest Areas’ near bus stops provide shelter from heat and cold and allow checking bus movement information, improving convenience for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and pregnant women.

Additionally, the district allocated an extra 360 million KRW from its budget, in addition to the 3.7 billion KRW secured through a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport competition, to install 4 smart poles and 5 smart crosswalks in the Hyeonchung-ro area, where pedestrian environments are vulnerable. (Photo)

Going forward, the district plans to install smart poles with electric vehicle charging functions at three locations, including the public parking lot in front of Boramae Hospital, to prepare for the increasing demand for electric vehicles.

Park Il-ha, Mayor of Dongjak-gu, said, “This project has improved residents’ convenience and laid the foundation for a smart city. We will continue to utilize smart technologies to improve residents’ lives and strengthen urban competitiveness.”

Gangseo-gu, Seoul (Mayor Kim Tae-woo) will operate 55 Warmth Sharing Shelters until mid-March next year to support residents in having a warm winter.

Warmth Sharing Shelters provide resting places where residents can escape the cold while waiting for pedestrian signals or using public transportation.

They are operated in two types: ‘Plastic type’ (21 locations) made of transparent polycarbonate material with excellent thermal efficiency, and ‘Vinyl type’ (34 locations), which are assembled tents measuring 2.3m wide, 1.5m deep, and 2.4m high, lined with windproof vinyl.

Users can check pedestrian signals and bus arrivals through the transparent vinyl without exposure to cold wind.

The district operates Warmth Sharing Shelters at 55 locations exposed to wind, including 45 bus stops such as opposite Gangseo-gu Office, Exit 4 of Kkachisan Station, and Balsan Station, as well as traffic islands and crosswalks near Gangseo-gu Office intersection.

The locations were selected considering pedestrian convenience and visibility for bus waiters.

Additionally, 55 heated chairs are operated, automatically activating the heating system when the outdoor temperature drops 2-3 degrees below 16°C. The system operates from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., matching the first and last bus times.

Each community service center patrols the shelter locations to prevent damage caused by strong winds.

An official said, “We prepared Warmth Sharing Shelters and heated chairs so residents can wait for buses warmly without shivering in the cold. We will continue to do our best to solve daily inconveniences through resident-centered administration.”

Runway-style Crosswalk

Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Soo-hee) is actively working to create a safe walking environment by introducing smart safety systems and expanding designated school zones.

The district continuously strives to prevent traffic accidents involving vulnerable groups such as children and to create a convenient walking environment by utilizing various highly visible technologies that are easily noticeable to both pedestrians and drivers.

Establishment of Smart Safety Systems Including Floor Traffic Lights and Voice Guidance Aids

Smart crosswalks are traffic safety aids using information and communication technology to enhance pedestrian safety. In addition to existing crosswalk traffic lights, they include ▲floor traffic lights ▲voice guidance aids ▲runway-type crosswalks ▲intersection alert systems. These are installed at busy intersections, school zones, and school routes with high traffic accident risks.

First, ‘floor traffic lights’ are pedestrian aids made by installing LED panels on the ground at crosswalk waiting lines. These LED floor signals change in sync with the crosswalk traffic lights.

‘Voice guidance aids’ provide audio warnings to pedestrians entering the roadway during a red pedestrian signal, while ‘runway-type crosswalks’ install LED guide lights along both sides of the crosswalk, allowing drivers and pedestrians to easily recognize the crosswalk even at night or in rain, similar to an airport runway.

‘Intersection alert systems’ operate with continuous yellow flashing during the day to remind drivers to drive safely when entering intersections, and at night, detect vehicle headlights approaching the intersection and light red warning lights on the left and right sides to alert drivers and pedestrians of approaching vehicles.

Since the pilot installation of floor traffic lights in 2020, the district has completed installation of 91 floor traffic lights, 20 voice guidance aids, 81 runway-type crosswalks, and 25 intersection alert systems to date.

Expansion of School Zones and Improvement Projects Including School Zone 532

The ‘School Zone Improvement Project’ involves newly designating or expanding school zones, supplementing traffic safety facilities such as traffic signs, road markings, and anti-slip pavements where outdated or insufficient, and installing pedestrian spaces on school routes. This year, the district expanded two school zones and completed maintenance on five, bringing the total designated school zones to 85.

Within certain sections of two school zones, vehicle speed limits were lowered from 30 km/h to 20 km/h, and pedestrian-friendly traffic safety facilities were installed on signs and road surfaces as part of the School Zone 532 project.

Additionally, solar-powered LED signs were installed and maintained in three school zones to enhance driver visibility. Yellow carpets, which mark waiting spaces at crosswalks in school zones to help children walk safely, were installed in 53 locations across 24 schools by the end of this year.

Lee Soo-hee, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, said, “The district will continue to promote school zone improvement projects and expand smart crosswalk installations to create a safe walking environment for residents.”

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