Seoul Facilities Corporation Develops Pigeon Droppings Corrosion Prevention Facility for Bridges... Installed on 3 Bridges

Prevention of Bridge Damage Caused by Pigeon Droppings and Expectation to Alleviate Inconvenience for Park Visitors

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul Facilities Corporation announced on the 9th that it has newly developed a 'Pigeon Prevention Facility' to resolve structural damage to bridges and citizen inconvenience caused by pigeons nesting under bridges. The facility has been installed on three bridges: the Northern Overpass of the Internal Circulation Road, Dumo Bridge on Gangbyeonbuk-ro, and the Northern Overpass on Bukbu Expressway.

The height under Seoul's automobile-only road bridges ranges from about 6 to 12 meters, providing shelter from rain and wind, making them preferred habitats for pigeons. Many problems have arisen due to pigeon droppings on bridge piers and under the bridges. Pigeon droppings are highly acidic, accelerating steel corrosion and concrete deterioration, which damages the structures and reduces the durability of the bridges. Additionally, the odor and pollution caused by the droppings have caused inconvenience to citizens using the walking paths and exercise equipment beneath the bridges.

Until now, domestic and international bird prevention facilities have mainly been made of nets or sharp spikes, but these have caused issues such as pigeons getting trapped and dying, leading to calls for more eco-friendly solutions. In response, Seoul Facilities Corporation developed a new type of 'Pigeon Prevention Facility.'

The 'Pigeon Prevention Facilities' developed by Seoul Facilities Corporation consist of three types: 'Bird Coil,' 'Bird Slide,' and 'Bird Wire.' The corporation collaborated with Korea Agricultural System, a company specializing in wildlife damage prevention facilities, to design a structure that fundamentally prevents pigeons from perching on railings.

The 'Bird Coil' involves installing circular steel wires with a diameter of 10 cm on the inspection walkway railings of bridges. When a pigeon lands, the circular steel wire moves back and forth and side to side, immediately encouraging the bird to move away. The 'Bird Slide' is a triangular prism-shaped structure with a width of 14 cm and a 40-degree slope. The 'Bird Wire' consists of 0.8 mm thick steel wires arranged in 2 to 3 rows on drainage pipes or other areas where Bird Slides or Coils cannot be installed. These facilities can be customized and installed according to the bridge's structure and environmental characteristics.

Director Cho Sung-il stated, "Based on the effectiveness review of the newly developed prevention facilities, we plan to expand their installation to other bridges on Seoul's automobile-only roads," adding, "The corporation will continue to do its best to provide differentiated public services to citizens."