Restoring Pohang Haksancheon Ecological Stream: Enhancing Scenery While Reducing Budget

Underground Reservoir and Aboveground Urban Forest Connected by Scenic Waterfall

Construction Cost Reduction and Time Savings, Partial Trial Operation by Year-End

Attention is drawn to Pohang City's ecological stream restoration project, which provides beautiful scenery while also achieving budget savings.

Pohang City installed two vehicular bridges in front of the Jungang-dong Administrative Welfare Center and one pedestrian bridge in front of Pohang Middle School as part of the Haksancheon ecological stream restoration project. Additionally, covered structures within the restoration section have been demolished, and stormwater pipes and infrastructure are being installed.

The retention basin for maintaining Haksancheon’s water was originally designed as an underground basin, but the underground soft ground was 28 meters deep, resulting in high costs for temporary facilities and ground reinforcement, as well as concerns about safety accidents.

Accordingly, to alleviate inconveniences for urban forest users, the construction method was changed to an above-ground scenic waterfall connected to the urban forest, and trial operation began on the 12th.

The retention basin for maintaining water supply in Haksancheon is currently undergoing test operation.

With the change in construction method, the original construction period was shortened from 10 months to 7 months, and the construction cost was reduced by about 25%, from 1.3 billion KRW to 1 billion KRW. Furthermore, the project achieved improved functionality and landscape enhancement effects, and efficient maintenance is possible above ground, resulting in reduced management costs.

The retention basin was constructed at the starting point of Haksancheon, connected to the Uhyun urban forest, measuring 24 meters in length and 5 meters in height. Once trees linked to the urban forest are planted around the waterfall, it is expected to become a refreshing resting place where cool water streams and scenery harmonize.

The bridge in front of Pohang Middle School was originally planned as a vehicular bridge, but Pohang City changed it to a pedestrian bridge during construction. Additionally, by securing school routes for students’ safe commuting and parking spaces, the flow of vehicles in the school-dense area was improved, and the urban landscape was significantly enhanced with the installation of a water screen that complements the pedestrian bridge.

Pohang City is also conducting construction in sections and phases to secure roads and walkways, focusing on safety and vehicle flow improvement through thorough safety management measures such as additional installation of safety fences and protective walls, construction signboards and lane reorganization, restricting construction vehicle access during school commuting and rush hours, and deploying traffic controllers.

The Haksancheon ecological stream restoration project, which broke ground in January 2021, plans to complete the remaining work by June next year. By the end of this year, the section from the urban forest to the Jungang-dong Administrative Welfare Center, where construction has been completed, will be opened for trial operation.

A Pohang City official said, “The ecological stream restoration project is an important initiative to protect citizens’ health and property amid the climate crisis and to improve quality of life by securing spaces for healing and recovery,” adding, “We will incorporate various innovative ideas and perspectives into the remaining work.”

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