Only 2 of 5 Underground Underpasses with High Flood Risk in Cheonan Have Vehicle Blockade Facilities

This Year's Plan for Installing Barrier Facilities at Ssangyong Underpass

As the monsoon season approaches, concerns about flooding in underpasses are growing, and it has been pointed out that the vehicle blocking facilities in the underpasses of Cheonan City, which has the most underpasses in Chungnam Province, are woefully insufficient. Panoramic view of Cheonan City

As the monsoon season approaches, concerns about flooding in underground underpasses have arisen, with criticism that the vehicle blocking facilities in Cheonan, which has the most underground underpasses in Chungnam, are woefully insufficient.

According to Cheonan City on the 19th, there are a total of 24 underground underpasses in the city, accounting for more than half of the 54 in Chungnam Province.

In particular, looking at the flood risk ratings of underground underpasses in the Cheonan area, only one is rated A, indicating the lowest flood risk. There are 18 rated B, and 5 rated C, which is the highest flood risk, meaning that most underground underpasses in Cheonan are at high potential risk of flooding.

However, vehicle blocking facilities that can automatically control vehicles in case of flooding concerns due to heavy rain are installed in only 3 locations.

Most notably, the underground underpasses rated C for highest flood risk are Cheongsu, Cheongdang, Bukbu, Panjeong, and Baekseok underpasses. Among these, vehicle blocking facilities are installed only at Cheongsu and Cheongdang underpasses.

Cheonan City has experienced flooding in underground underpasses every year during heavy rain. In August and September 2023, control measures were implemented at Ssangyong Underpass, and in 2020, entry control was enforced at Seongjeong and Ssangyong underpasses.

The city plans to gradually expand vehicle blocking facilities, but this year, additional installation is limited to only one location, Ssangyong Underpass.

A Cheonan city official said, “We agree on the expansion of vehicle blocking facilities for underground underpasses, and a budget of about 400 million won has been secured this year for Ssangyong Underpass, with construction scheduled to begin,” adding, “Since there is also a policy at the central government level to expand vehicle blocking facilities for underground underpasses, we will work to install them in more locations.”