Comprehensive Safety Measures Established... Maintenance System Improvement
"Aging Causes Rockfall Accidents, Urgent Need for National Funding Support"
To protect citizens from falling rock accidents caused by aging elevated subway bridges, fall prevention nets will be installed by next year at pedestrian crossings and intersections under elevated bridges with heavy pedestrian traffic. Along with this, emergency safety inspections and a continuous inspection system for the entire elevated bridge sections will be fully implemented by the first half of next year.
Seoul Metro (President Baek Ho) announced on the 28th that it has established a "Comprehensive Safety Plan for Elevated Bridges" to strengthen the safety of subway elevated bridge facilities. This plan focuses on alleviating citizens' concerns and preventing major disasters by improving the overall maintenance system of aging elevated bridges, as the cause of the rockfall accident that occurred on the Line 2 Yongdap~Seongsu section in September was found to be aging.
The installation of fall prevention nets on the elevated bridge between Yongdap and Seongsu stations on Line 2. Provided by Seoul Metro.
Through this plan, the corporation will prepare maintenance measures for aging elevated bridges, including installing fall prevention nets at hazardous locations, conducting emergency safety inspections, establishing a 365-day continuous inspection system, and forming a dedicated maintenance organization for elevated bridges.
Currently, the corporation is installing fall prevention nets at 143 locations under elevated bridges with heavy pedestrian traffic, such as pedestrian crossings, intersections, and U-turn sections. Installation will be completed by next year.
By the first half of next year, proactive emergency safety inspections will be conducted on all elevated bridge sections (28.2 km), and a 365-day continuous inspection system and emergency diagnosis system will be established and operated. To ensure continuous safety management of elevated bridge structures, a dedicated maintenance organization will be formed, and efforts will be made to train specialized personnel and establish a rapid response system.
Among the 40 elevated bridge sections on Lines 2 to 8 currently managed by the corporation, 75% (30 locations) are structures over 30 years old. By 2030, all but one location will have exceeded 30 years.
Meanwhile, the corporation plans to promote a "Research Project on Elevated Bridge Maintenance" to identify the remaining lifespan of aging elevated bridges and derive effective maintenance methods when the facilities reach their usage limits.
Baek Ho, President of Seoul Metro, stated, "Since the main cause of the rockfall accident in early September was the aging of the facilities, national funding support for safety investment in aging facilities is urgently needed for this comprehensive safety plan to be effective. We will continue to secure citizen safety through continuous safety management and the establishment of preventive systems for subway facilities."
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