Video Analysis Technology Used to Crack Down on Overloaded Vehicles... Busan-Ulsan Expressway Receives Top Evaluation
by Kim Dongpyo
Published 04 Sep.2022 14:02(KST)
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Conducts Operational Evaluation of 19 Nationwide Private Highways
Incheon Bridge, Incheon Airport, and Suwon-Gwangmyeong Expressways Rated 'Excellent'
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 4th the results of the 2022 operational evaluation conducted on all 19 privately financed expressways nationwide, selecting the Busan-Ulsan Expressway as the best corporation.
The operational evaluation of privately financed expressways has been conducted annually since 2012 to improve the convenience and safety for users of private roads and to enhance road management efficiency.
As a result of the evaluation, the Busan-Ulsan Expressway was selected as the best private corporation, and three expressways?Incheon Bridge, Incheon Airport Expressway, and Suwon-Gwangmyeong Expressway?were selected as excellent corporations.
This evaluation comprehensively calculated the results of quantitative and qualitative assessments by experts in road, traffic, and accounting fields across four areas: ① road safety, ② user convenience, ③ operational efficiency, and ④ road publicness.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport stated, "The overall operation and management level of all private expressways was generally excellent. Road safety has improved through strengthened joint crackdowns on overloaded vehicles and improvements to road facilities in accident-prone and disaster-vulnerable sections, and user convenience has also been enhanced by improving rest areas and rest facilities."
In particular, the Busan-Ulsan Expressway stood out for its efforts to secure safety independently by developing and operating an integrated traffic control system that includes enforcement against overloaded vehicles using video analysis technology.
However, road damage such as potholes increased by 12% compared to the previous year, indicating the need for improvement measures such as pavement management plans.
The Ministry and the Private Road Management Support Center plan to share and spread best practices from the operational evaluation across all private expressways and promptly improve insufficient cases, strengthening follow-up management to provide a safe and pleasant environment on private expressways.
Additionally, a joint workshop for private corporations will be held in October to provide opportunities for sharing best practices among corporations, and action plans for deficiencies will be promptly collected and follow-up implementation status will be checked within three months.
Kang Wook, Director of the Road Investment Support Division at the Ministry, said, "Through the operational evaluation conducted annually by the Ministry and the Private Road Management Support Center, the overall operation and management level of private expressway corporations is improving," adding, "We will enhance the evaluation system and strengthen strict management and supervision functions to create safer and more convenient private expressways."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.