Suwon Road Safety 'In Good Condition'

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Suwon Special City announced on the 16th that it will establish and implement a 'road safety strategy' to prevent ground subsidence (sinkholes) and safely manage roads and facilities.

The road safety strategy consists of 10 prevention strategies and 4 response strategies.

Prevention strategies include GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) exploration, AI (Artificial Intelligence) road analysis system implementation, and underpass entry blocking facility installation.

Exploring hidden cavities in roads with ground penetrating radar

GPR exploration identifies areas expected to experience ground subsidence that cannot be detected by the naked eye using a specific frequency. By discovering cavities underground in advance, ground subsidence accidents can be prevented. Suwon plans to conduct GPR exploration on all roads in the city.

Since April, special safety inspections were conducted, including GPR exploration of ground around 8 large construction sites, including the Dongtan-Indeokwon Line Double-track Railway Construction Project (6th, 7th, and 9th sections). No signs of ground subsidence or structural abnormalities were discovered.

Implementing AI road analysis system

This involves real-time detection of potholes and other hazards using AI technology. When risk factors are discovered, rapid measures are taken before accidents occur.

Installing underpass entry blocking facilities to prevent flooding accidents

Underpass entry blocking facilities are also being installed. To prevent casualties and property damage from underpass flooding and to create a safe road environment, facilities that block vehicles from entering underpasses during flooding and guide them to alternative routes are being installed.

The city is actively promoting action guidelines for creating a safe road environment by producing and distributing promotional materials for 'Sinkhole ZERO Road Making' and 'Clearing snow in front of my home and storefront.' The 'Sinkhole ZERO Road Making' promotional materials include response procedures when sinkholes occur and Suwon's sinkhole prevention policies.

There are also strategies to enhance the capacity of road safety management staff. In January, the city established the 'Suwon Snow Removal Manual' and is systematically training snow removal personnel, which is being used when it snows.

Enhancing capabilities of technical civil servants in charge of construction projects

Additionally, regular capacity-building training is being conducted for technical civil servants in charge of construction projects, and a 'Facility Maintenance Manual' is being produced and distributed for reference by those in charge of facility maintenance. The manual includes basic inspection items for each facility, damage patterns by cause, and repair methods.

Furthermore, to ensure quality and integrity of construction projects and create a safe construction environment, the city is conducting pre-submission fact-finding surveys for public construction project bidding to prevent unfair contractors without execution capability from participating in bids. To promote local construction industry development, the city is also distributing brochures containing information on Suwon construction companies and promotional materials for specialized construction industry public bid project participation guidelines.

Road accident response strategies include △24-hour pothole rapid response team operation △facility safety technical consulting △rapid response advisory team dispatch △ground subsidence response manual establishment.

Operating '24-hour pothole rapid response team'

Since 2023, the city has been operating a '24-hour pothole rapid response team' to respond quickly to potholes. The rapid response team, which operates during the thaw season (February-April) and rainy season (July-September), patrols roads, takes immediate safety measures upon discovering potholes, and completes repairs within 24 hours upon receiving reports of pothole discovery.

Facility safety technical consulting targets road facilities (underpasses, bridges) that require maintenance and management improvements. Civil servants visit the site with experts such as licensed engineers and doctors to develop improvement measures to prevent safety accidents.

The rapid response advisory team responds quickly by accompanying relevant field experts when social issues or matters of public concern related to facility safety arise. They analyze the situation and promptly notify analysis results.

A 'Ground Subsidence Response Manual' is also planned to be established. It will stipulate Suwon's responsibilities and measures when ground subsidence (sinkholes) occur. Based on the manual, the goal is to respond quickly and systematically to minimize damage.

Road accident prevention and response status will be continuously updated on Suwon's Construction Policy Department SNS.

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●Road accident prevention strategies

1. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) exploration

2. Production and distribution of leaflets on clearing snow in front of homes and storefronts

3. Production and distribution of 'Sinkhole ZERO Road Making' leaflets

4. Implementation of AI road analysis system

5. Establishment and training of Suwon snow removal manual

6. Pre-submission fact-finding survey for public construction project bidding

7. Capacity-building training for technical civil servants

8. Production and dissemination of facility maintenance manual

9. Support for construction companies in Suwon

10. Installation of underpass entry blocking facilities

●Road accident response strategies

1. 24-hour pothole rapid response team operation

2. Facility safety technical consulting implementation

3. Rapid response advisory team dispatch

4. Ground subsidence response manual establishment