Mokpo City Takes Steps to Improve Road Environment Causing Traffic Accidents

Maintenance of Three Locations Including Docheongipgu Intersection and Citizen Culture and Sports Center Intersection

Mokpo Citizen Culture and Sports Center Intersection. Photo by Mokpo City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Seung-hyun Jeong] Mokpo City, Jeollanam-do announced on the 8th that it will improve the traffic environment in sections with frequent traffic accidents.

The target sections are three locations: the intersection from the Provincial Government Office Entrance Intersection to the Mokpo Citizen Culture and Sports Center Intersection, the Emart Five-way Intersection, and the Yang-eulsan Forest Bathing Area Entrance Five-way Intersection near Hangdo Girls' Middle School. The city plans to invest about 1.1 billion KRW to minimize accident occurrences.

The section from the Provincial Government Office Entrance Intersection to the Mokpo Citizen Culture and Sports Center Intersection (L=550m) previously had flowerbed-type central medians installed on both sides of the center for a bus-only lane, causing confusion in vehicle movement and frequent traffic accidents as a result.

The Emart Five-way Intersection is a section with heavy vehicle traffic where lane distinctions are unclear, and the Yang-eulsan Forest Bathing Area Entrance Five-way Intersection near Hangdo Girls' Middle School has continuously received complaints about confusion caused by vehicle entry and exit.

In response, the Road Traffic Authority included the section from the Provincial Government Office Entrance Intersection to the Mokpo Citizen Culture and Sports Center Intersection and the Emart Five-way Intersection in the "Jeollanam-do Frequent Traffic Accident Locations Basic Improvement Plan" and proposed improvement measures.

The Authority suggested removing the central flowerbed median in the section from the Provincial Government Office Entrance Intersection to the Mokpo Citizen Culture and Sports Center Intersection, and for the Emart Five-way Intersection, painting color guide lines called color lanes for clear lane guidance and adjusting the road corners toward Emart, the bus terminal, and Yeongheung High School directions to install traffic islands.

The city has reflected these opinions for the two sections in the detailed design and commenced construction, while planning to install a roundabout at the Yang-eulsan Forest Bathing Area Entrance Five-way Intersection.

A city official stated, "We expect that the improvement works at frequent traffic accident locations and the installation of the roundabout will enhance citizens' traffic convenience and minimize traffic accidents," and added, "We ask for the citizens' broad understanding and cooperation regarding any inconveniences during the construction period."