Mayor Kang Gijung Conducts Emergency Inspection of Subway Construction Site Damaged by Heavy Rain

Safety Inspection with Private Sector Experts
On-site Check of Flood Damage at Baegun Square
"Swift Resumption of Construction After Recovery"

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong visited the construction site of Phase 1 of Urban Railway Line 2 located at Baegun Square on the morning of the 30th to inspect the progress of the construction, including flood damage recovery. Provided by Gwangju City

On July 30, Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijung visited the underground construction site of Baegun Square on Urban Railway Line 2, which was recently flooded due to heavy rain, to conduct an emergency safety inspection. A safety inspection team composed of private sector experts accompanied the inspection.

At the site, Mayor Kang told site officials, "The safety of site workers and citizens is the top priority. Although the conditions are difficult due to heavy rain and heat waves, please ensure safety through thorough inspections and resume construction as quickly as possible."

The underground construction site at Baegun Square was covered in mud due to flooding, and cleaning and safety inspections, including removing the mud, are currently underway. In particular, this section has faced difficulties in construction because large-scale bedrock and obstacles were discovered, which was not included in the original design.

The safety inspection team descended 12 meters underground to inspect a 1.2-kilometer section from Baegun Square to Donga Hospital and Juwol Intersection, and checked the status of flood damage recovery. Mayor Kang personally checked the safety of concrete pouring and structural construction at the site.

Above ground, the condition of the steel deck plates and road pavement near the 'Pureungil Bridge' was also inspected. The city has completed road maintenance for 26 sections totaling 3.7 kilometers to alleviate inconvenience for citizens.

Kim Gwangtaek, the site manager for Section 4 of Urban Railway Line 2, said, "Due to unexpected flooding, we had to temporarily halt construction and are now focusing all efforts on recovery. Although underground work is challenging, we will prioritize safety and strive to complete the construction quickly."

On July 17, Gwangju experienced a record 426 millimeters of rainfall in a single day, and heavy rain continued for three days, resulting in flood damage at 18 out of 20 stations on Urban Railway Line 2. The city is meticulously inspecting overall construction site safety through a safety inspection team consisting of five private sector experts.

In addition, to resolve citizen inconvenience related to the construction of Urban Railway Line 2, a dedicated team has been formed with participation from four offices and headquarters and nine departments, focusing on intensive maintenance of roads, lanes, and pedestrian paths.

Mayor Kang emphasized, "Baegun Square is as deep as 42 meters due to the urban railway line, underpass, and evacuation routes, and construction is difficult because of the discovery of massive bedrock and various unexpected obstacles. The city will continue to do its utmost to minimize inconvenience for citizens and to ensure safe and prompt construction."

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