Replacement of Materials in 19 Soundproof Tunnels and Risk Assessment Followed by Replacement of 136 Sound Barriers
[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] All 19 soundproof tunnels in Gyeonggi Province using combustible materials (polymethyl methacrylate, PMMA) will be replaced with non-combustible materials by early next year. Currently, 12 soundproof tunnel projects planned, designed, or under construction using combustible materials are on hold.
On the 16th, Gyeonggi Province announced, "Regarding 136 soundproof walls using combustible materials (PMMA), we will conduct a comprehensive review of fire spread risks by March and establish demolition and replacement plans to replace them with non-combustible materials by February next year."
This is a follow-up measure after a full inspection and urgent review of soundproof facilities, as well as fire safety directives, following the fire accident at the Gwacheon Second Gyeongin Expressway soundproof tunnel in December last year.
There are 80 soundproof tunnels in Gyeonggi Province; 48 are managed by city and county governments, and the remaining 32 are managed by the Korea Expressway Corporation, private investors, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
The province plans to issue compliance orders to the managing city and county governments to replace 19 soundproof tunnels using combustible materials among the 48 managed by local governments with materials that have higher fire safety.
The province will also replace 136 soundproof walls made of combustible materials after safety investigations.
Among the 613 soundproof walls installed in the province (84 by the province, 529 by city and county governments), 136 (35 by the province, 101 by city and county governments) using combustible materials will undergo a comprehensive review by March, and the managing departments and each city and county will be instructed to replace them with non-combustible materials by February next year.
Until the demolition and replacement of the soundproof tunnels, partial removal of soundproof panels on the upper or side parts of the tunnels will be carried out first, along with temporary measures such as installation and inspection of fire extinguishing equipment, CCTV, entry blocking facilities, and securing evacuation spaces.
Cheon Byung-moon, Director of Road Safety at Gyeonggi Province, said, "We will promptly proceed with the demolition and replacement of combustible soundproof facilities to alleviate residents' concerns and strive to prevent recurrence of similar accidents."
Previously, on December 29 last year, a fire accident at the Gwacheon Second Gyeongin Expressway soundproof tunnel resulted in 49 casualties (including 5 deaths).
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