Hwaseong City Introduces Environment-Friendly Snow Removal Equipment

Hwaseong City has designated December 1 through March 31 next year as a four-month road snow removal period and is making an all-out effort to prepare winter road snow removal operations for 1,149 routes totaling 1,034 km in length.

The city has established an "equipment-oriented comprehensive eco-friendly snow removal policy (modernization)" and has additionally purchased wet-salt snow removal equipment and truck-mounted snow removal blades (9 units), tractor-mounted snow removal blades (134 units), sidewalk snow removal machines (4 units), and salt spreaders (5 units). On the 26th, it held a demonstration of eco-friendly snow removal equipment at the Dongtan Complex Cultural Center.

Among the eco-friendly snow removal methods the city has been promoting this year, the wet-salt snow removal method involves spraying a solution of calcium chloride diluted with water and mixed with salt at a 7:3 ratio just before snow falls or when 2-3 cm of snow has accumulated. This method provides superior initial snow removal effects; compared to the calcium chloride spraying method, the spraying distance is approximately 2.7 times longer, enabling rapid snow removal operations, and is expected to generate annual budget savings of 563 million won. This snow removal method will be deployed on major arterial roads with heavy vehicle traffic, while environment-friendly de-icing agents will be used instead of calcium chloride on secondary arterial roads to minimize environmental damage.

Additionally, the city plans to deploy sidewalk snow removal machines in urbanized areas such as Dongtan New Town, Byeongjeom, Bongdam, and Hyungnam to ensure pedestrian safety by rapidly clearing commute routes, school paths, and access to public facilities.

Furthermore, as part of voluntary resident participation in snow removal, the city will provide and supply 134 tractor-mounted snow removal blades to volunteers who own tractors, designating assigned routes for snow removal operations on local roads, branch roads, and village streets using a "pushing method" snow removal system. The city also plans to activate resident participation in snow removal operations through support for fuel costs, insurance premiums, and maintenance fees, as well as recognition for civil defense education substitutes and volunteer hours.

A city official stated, "Hwaseong City has an area 1.4 times larger than Seoul, with 1,149 designated road routes totaling 1,034 km in length. We have faced considerable difficulties in road snow removal operations due to significant shortages in snow removal equipment and personnel. However, with the introduction of the 'equipment-oriented comprehensive eco-friendly snow removal policy (modernization),' we plan to expand and operate sidewalk and bicycle path snow removal sections through additional purchases as needed based on snow removal demand."

Meanwhile, Lee Dong-yeol, head of the Road Management Division, stated, "During the winter road snow removal period, we plan to carry out snow removal operations by mobilizing all administrative resources to ensure smooth traffic flow and resident safety. In the event of sudden heavy snowfall, there are limitations to what can be accomplished with only personnel and equipment held by administrative agencies, so we urge citizens to actively participate in snow removal by voluntarily clearing snow in front of their homes, storefronts, village entrances, and alleyways."