Jeongeup City Completes Demolition of Yujeong Bridge on Odanso Stream

Creating a Safer River Environment

Jeongeup City in North Jeolla Province announced on the 27th that it has recently completed the removal of the Yujeong Bridge within Odanso Stream, which had obstructed the river flow during heavy rains and increased the risk of flooding.

Through this demolition, the city has addressed a long-standing wish of residents in Gamgok-myeon and created a safer river environment to prevent river overflows and flooding of farmland.

Jeongeup City recently completed the removal work of Yujeonggyo Bridge within Odanso Stream, which had obstructed the flow of the river during heavy rains and increased the risk of flooding. Provided by Jeongeup City

The demolished Yujeong Bridge was an aging structure completed in 1985. It was originally a facility on a provincial road managed by the North Jeolla Provincial Road Management Office. In 2016, management rights were transferred to Jeongeup City due to a route change of Provincial Road No. 701. However, the bridge had been criticized for its closely spaced piers, which impeded the river flow.

In particular, during heavy rains, debris would get caught, blocking the flow of water or causing sudden changes in water velocity, which raised concerns about river overflow and persistent risks of accidents.

In response, the city prioritized citizen safety and took action to resolve the issue. Jeongeup City held ongoing consultations with the North Jeolla Provincial Road Management Office and the Jeonbuk Headquarters of Korea Railroad Corporation regarding the bridge removal. As a result, 220 million won in provincial funds was invested to carry out the demolition work.

With the completion of this project, the disaster risk factor that had long troubled Gamgok-myeon residents has been eliminated. The city expects that, with the river’s cross-sectional flow now secured, the risk of river overflow during future heavy rains will be significantly reduced.

Additionally, the city anticipates that the project will prevent recurring flooding of nearby farmland, allowing residents to live in a safer and more pleasant environment.

Mayor Lee Haksoo stated, "We will do our utmost to protect the lives and property of our citizens by proactively removing disaster risk factors," adding, "Going forward, we will continue to thoroughly identify and address citizens’ inconveniences through on-site administration and actively reflect them in city policies."

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