Dongjak-gu, Maintenance of Safety Facilities for Disabled Pedestrians

By November, 277 million KRW invested... Improvement of pedestrian rights for the disabled through replacement and correction of worn and damaged braille blocks at 54 locations on 7 routes including Deungyong-ro, and lowering of crosswalk curbs

Last month, construction of safety facilities for the disabled was carried out on the sidewalk near Sudo Girls' High School.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Dongjak-gu (Mayor Lee Chang-woo) will carry out the "2020 Sidewalk Safety Facility Maintenance Project for the Disabled" until November to prevent safety accidents involving disabled persons occurring on sidewalks.

This project was prepared to guarantee the walking rights of vulnerable pedestrians by repairing old and damaged tactile blocks installed around crosswalks in the area and lowering sidewalk curbs.

The district conducted a preliminary survey of about 2,330 locations on city and district roads in the area by December last year to promote this project.

This year, about 277 million KRW will be invested to maintain 54 locations on seven routes where tactile blocks are severely damaged or urgently need maintenance for pedestrian convenience: Yeouidaebang-ro 44-gil, Boramae-ro 5-gil, Deungyong-ro, Manyang-ro 3-gil, Seodal-ro, Heukseok-ro, and Boramae-ro.

The project includes replacing old and damaged tactile blocks, correcting safety guidance blocks (tactile and linear) that are incorrectly or crudely installed, and lowering crosswalk curbs.

In particular, the lowering of crosswalk curbs for the convenience of wheelchair and stroller passage will be maintained by completely removing the height difference between the sidewalk and the roadway, instead of only lowering part of the sidewalk as before.

Last year, the district replaced sidewalk blocks and road curbs and repaired paving stones at 210 locations including the back gate of Shinsangdo Elementary School, Noryangjin Neighborhood Park, and the Southern Circulation Road area.

Oh Ban-gyo, Director of the Road Management Division, said, "Through this project, we will create an environment where all vulnerable road users, including the visually impaired and physically disabled, can walk safely, making Dongjak a city easy to walk in."

Until October last year, the district conducted on-site surveys targeting bus stops, subway entrances, main and side roads to improve the walking environment suitable for the disabled’s perspective, checking for appropriate installation of road facilities for lowering and sloping sidewalks, securing wheelchair walking space, and guiding pedestrian routes.