Nowon-gu Completes Establishment of 'Nono System' for Rapid Snow Removal

Ensuring Resident Safety with Snow Removal Within 1 Hour
Full Expansion of Private Snow Removal Services from Approx. 50km to 290km, Increasing Snow Removal Vehicles from 7 to 28
Securing Snow Removal Equipment Dedicated to Sidewalks and Walking Trails, Reorganizing Private Snow Removal Teams in Coordination with Local Autonomous Disaster Prevention Groups
Expanding Road Heating Systems from 8 Locations, Brine Spraying Devices from 5 Locations, and Snow Removal Boxes from 408 to 500 Locations

Nowon-gu, Seoul (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it has established a 'Rapid Snow Removal System' aiming to complete snow removal within one hour of snowfall.

The existing snow removal system primarily used snow removal vehicles on main roads, but relied on manual labor from local community center staff, neighborhood leaders, and volunteers for sidewalks and side streets, resulting in shortcomings in rapid and systematic snow removal response.

Starting this year, the district has built and activated the NOnoS (Nowon-gu One hour Snow Removing Works System), with the goal of snow removal within one hour.

The main components include ▲expanding private snow removal services ▲securing dedicated snow removal equipment for sidewalks and walking paths ▲reorganizing private snow removal task forces in coordination with the local autonomous disaster prevention groups ▲adding sections for remote snow removal system installation ▲expanding storage houses and snow removal boxes for deicing agents.

First, the district will expand the private snow removal service routes from about 50 km to approximately 290 km, covering 37 main roads including Nohae-ro as well as side streets. Additionally, the number of snow removal service vehicles has been significantly increased from 7 last year to 28 this year.

To support this, side streets were added to the existing snow removal maps, and upgraded maps were created for each of the 19 neighborhoods and the entire district. This is to conduct snow removal meticulously and systematically.

Moreover, dedicated snow removal equipment for sidewalks and walking paths has been secured, and the district will directly carry out snow removal on sidewalks accessible by vehicles. To improve snow removal efficiency, equipment such as Stiga villas, blowers, and automatic small spreaders will be actively utilized instead of manual labor.

For narrow side streets and sidewalks where vehicle access is difficult, private snow removal task forces have been reorganized and operated. The personnel has been increased from 600 to 740, and small snow removal equipment is used to cover snow removal blind spots. These teams are organized in coordination with the local autonomous disaster prevention groups, a voluntary citizen disaster prevention organization, to instill a sense of responsibility.

Remote snow removal systems such as road heating cables and brine spraying devices have been additionally installed in snow-vulnerable steep roads. The road heating system installs heating cables 7 cm below the pavement surface to melt snow. Three new locations were added this year to the five installed last year. These include a 1,120 m section around Surak Hanok Daycare Center, which had a high risk of vehicle accidents due to steep slopes, as well as areas near San 145-17 in Sanggye-dong and San 26 in Junggye-dong. Additionally, two new installations are underway near Wolgye-dong 411-47 and Wolgye-dong 429.

The brine spraying device, which sprays liquid deicing agents along the road edges, was installed this year on an 800 m sharp curve section at Deokneung Hill, adding to the four locations installed last year. This area had frequent complaints due to icy road accidents.

To support rapid snow removal, the number of snow removal boxes has been increased from 408 last year to 500 this year (247 storage houses for deicing agents, 213 snow removal boxes for side streets, and 40 dedicated snow removal boxes for sidewalks).

Meanwhile, in March, the district was recognized as a commendable autonomous district in the 22/23 winter snow removal policy evaluation announced by Seoul City, winning awards for five consecutive years. This year, the district has organized a Snow Removal Task Force led by Mayor Oh Seung-rok, consisting of 3 bureaus and 13 teams, maintaining a 24-hour situation management system until March 15 next year to ensure thorough snow removal measures.

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, “Instead of the previous manpower mobilization method, we have established the NOnoS system tailored to the local conditions of Nowon-gu for rapid and systematic snow removal. We will continue to do our best to ensure the safety of vehicles and pedestrians with the goal of snow removal within one hour.”