31 Subsurface Road Cavities Discovered and Addressed in 2024
377km of District Roads to Be Surveyed by 2027 Under Five-Year Plan
Mapo-gu, Seoul (Mayor Park Gang-su) conducted the "2024 Subsurface Road Void Investigation" to prevent unexpected ground subsidence (sinkhole) accidents, repairing 31 hidden voids.
Voids refer to empty spaces beneath the road surface, which, if left unattended, can lead to major casualties and property damage, making early detection and repair essential.
To address this, Mapo-gu is sequentially investigating all 377 km of district roads within the area according to a five-year plan from 2023 to 2027.
In 2024, a primary subsurface survey and analysis were conducted on a 40.1 km section of district roads (carriageways and sidewalks) using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) equipment.
Areas showing abnormal signs in the first survey underwent a secondary detailed inspection using drilling machines and endoscopes, resulting in the identification of 31 voids.
Following this, the discovered voids were repaired to preempt ground subsidence accidents and maintain stable road functionality.
The voids found by Mapo-gu in this investigation were mainly caused by insufficient compaction beneath buried pipes, damage to underground installations, and broken sewage pipes.
The district plans to continue regular subsurface road inspections, proactive repairs, and the use of advanced technology to further enhance residents' safety.
Additionally, to prevent slip-and-fall accidents and vehicle skidding caused by sudden heavy snowfall, the existing automatic snow-melting systems on 21 steep slopes will be inspected, and installations will be expanded to 7 more locations to help prevent accidents on snowy roads.
Park Gang-su, Mayor of Mapo-gu, stated, “We will do our best to prevent ground subsidence accidents through thorough road inspections and prompt repairs, creating a safe road environment so that residents can live with greater peace of mind.”
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