'Is the Overpass Safe?' Post Predicting Sindorim Overpass Collapse Four Days Before Gains Attention

Pedestrian Overpass Rated 'A' for Safety Collapses
"Cold Weather Impact? Construction Must Consider External Factors"
"No Casualties Were Just Luck"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] On the 3rd, the Dorim pedestrian overpass near Sindorim Station in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, collapsed like a bent stick in the middle of the night, restricting passage. Warning signs of collapse had already appeared before the accident. A citizen filed a complaint on the 31st of last month, stating that "the safety of the overpass is questionable." However, no significant measures were taken.

This overpass, which has only been open for about six years, had even received an A grade in a safety inspection conducted until last month. The collapse occurred during the early morning hours when no one was passing by. However, experts point out that the absence of casualties was merely a matter of luck.

"Felt like the overpass was sagging"… A post appeared on a community site three days before the collapse

The Dorim pedestrian overpass is a 2.5 meters wide and 104.6 meters long footbridge connecting Dorim-dong and Sindorim Station across the Dorimcheon stream. It features a truss structure made by weaving steel materials into triangles and has an arch shape without piers. The total project cost was 2.8 billion KRW, and it opened at the end of May 2016.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This overpass is classified as a Type 3 facility and has undergone regular safety inspections twice a year. It was confirmed to have received an A grade (no issues) in the inspection conducted from October 28 to December 15 last year.

However, signs of collapse were detected just two weeks later. A netizen posted on the 31st of last month, three days before the collapse, saying, "It feels like the overpass is sagging."

A citizen posted on an online community on the 31st of last month, four days before the Dorim Pedestrian Overpass collapse, warning about the risk of collapse. / Photo by Online Community Capture

The netizen shared photos of the overpass they took themselves and wrote, "After comparing with older photos, it definitely seems like there is a structural problem. It used to be somewhat arch-shaped, but now..." In the photos, the overpass appeared closer to a straight line than an arch.

The netizen also reported this issue to the National Petition System (Gukmin Sinmungo). On the same day, a report stating "There is deformation in the overpass's exterior, which seems to pose a safety problem" was received by the National Petition System. However, it appears that Yeongdeungpo-gu, the jurisdictional authority, took no significant action.

Experts: "Formal safety inspections cannot prevent accidents"

The district is investigating the cause of the overpass collapse. A district official speculated in an interview with YTN, "There is contraction and expansion caused by temperature differences between summer and winter. That could have influenced the collapse of the overpass."

However, experts emphasize structural defects in the overpass from the start. Professor Choi Jaewon of the Korea Road Traffic Authority said, "The exact cause of the collapse needs to be determined through on-site investigation, but it is likely a problem with the structure or construction itself. Buildings like overpasses are naturally affected by weather. However, collapses are rare, and such external factors should be considered during construction."

Professor Lee Sugon, former professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Seoul, also diagnosed, "There must have been deficient parts in the overpass itself." However, he added, "The collapse is a problem, but the biggest issue is that it passed safety inspections shortly before collapsing and that no action was taken despite warning signs. The safety inspections and accident prevention systems are merely formalities. The absence of casualties was just a matter of luck," he pointed out.