Gyeonggi Province will survey all 302 underpasses in the province, as well as the status of safety facilities, for potential flooding vulnerabilities during heavy rains and typhoons. Based on the survey results, Gyeonggi Province will actively allocate provincial funds to install underpass safety systems such as automatic blocking mechanisms and CCTV surveillance.

The province has deployed personnel to relevant sites in line with the occurrence of emergencies such as typhoons this year, but provincial authorities explained that there are limitations in dealing with abnormal weather conditions and localized heavy rains just by increasing the number of monitoring and control personnel. Accordingly, the province is promoting underpass safety through the use of information and communication technologies (ICT).

First, by September 9, all 302 underpasses in the province will be thoroughly inspected for possible flooding vulnerabilities. The provincial government will also receive applications from relevant cities and counties for underpasses in need of improvement, and carry out the improvement projects on an annual basis.

To date, underpasses have been supported only through national funds and special grant taxes, with limited support and city/county budgets restricting improvements to underpass safety facilities. Accordingly, Gyeonggi Province has established a policy of actively allocating disaster management funds (provincial budget).

The main improvement project will see the establishment of underpass safety systems through the installation of water level gauges, automatic blocking mechanisms, CCTV surveillance, and alarm systems in underpasses. Once this project is completed, it will be possible to constantly monitor flooding situations through various sensors in underpasses and automatically or remotely block vehicle access when crisis signs are detected. Electronic signs and alarms will also be installed to reduce secondary damage from incidents such as collisions and congestion.

In addition, Gyeonggi Province also recommended that the central government improve ‘the criteria for controlling and classifying flood-prone underpasses.’ This is because existing standards focus on historical information which limits the ability to respond to unpredictable climate crises such as recent extreme rainfall. To address this issue, Gyeonggi Province has developed and recommended to the central government evaluation criteria that can improve safety performance to prevent loss of life.

Choi Byung-gap, Assistant Governor for Safety Management, said, “The strengthening of underpass safety facilities in case of flooding, which has been a recent issue, is expected to protect the lives of Gyeonggi Province residents even during extreme rainfall,” adding, “Gyeonggi Province will prioritize funding for disaster safety infrastructure that protects lives, and actively recommend to the central government safety-related system improvements that can be implemented in the field so that everyone can enjoy their daily lives in safety.”