Gyeonggi-do Strengthens Safety Management and ESG Practices for Aging Private Roads

Gyeonggi Province Holds Thorough Road Facility Safety Management Meeting with Three Private Highway Companies
Ilsan Daegyo Co., Ltd., Je3am Gyeongin Expressway Co., Ltd., and Gyeonggi Nambu Road Co., Ltd. Participate
Promoting Comprehensive Maintenance of Aging Facilities and Regional Coexistence Development Plans

On the 11th, Gyeonggi Province held a current issues meeting at the Northern Government Complex of Gyeonggi Province with officials from three private highway companies: Ilsan Daegyo Co., Ltd., Je3am Gyeongin Expressway Co., Ltd., and Gyeonggi Nambu Road Co., Ltd., focusing on road facility safety management and strengthening ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) management.

Gyeonggi Province held a meeting on the 11th at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Northern Office with officials from three private road companies?Ilsan Bridge Co., Ltd., Third Gyeongin Expressway Co., Ltd., and Gyeonggi Southern Road Co., Ltd.?to discuss current issues such as road facility safety management and strengthening ESG management. Photo by Gyeonggi Province

ESG is an acronym combining the first letters of Environmental, Social, and Governance, referring to a company's eco-friendly management, social responsibility, and transparent governance.

During the meeting, in-depth discussions were held on issues specific to each private highway company, including thorough inspections and management of aging road facilities and ways to cooperate with local communities.

First, Gyeonggi Province prioritized management sections such as the expressway between Seosuwon and Uiwang, which has been in operation for over 30 years, and requested the three private highway companies to conduct thawing season safety inspections and carry out comprehensive surveys of vulnerable points such as road overpass bridges and aging bridges for repair and reinforcement to ensure road facility safety management. In particular, it was emphasized that vulnerable facilities identified through inspections must be immediately reinforced to minimize the occurrence of safety accidents.

Additionally, Gyeonggi Province and the three private companies agreed to seek projects that can cooperate with local communities to strengthen ESG management. The province plans to develop private highways beyond mere transportation infrastructure to coexist harmoniously with local communities.

Furthermore, it was emphasized that thorough preparation is necessary in anticipation of this year’s private highway operation evaluation. The operation evaluation is a comprehensive procedure assessing road safety, maintenance status, and service quality, and Gyeonggi Province plans to set future improvement directions based on the evaluation results.

Meanwhile, the three private highway companies also announced plans for focused inspections and repairs of aging and vulnerable facilities, expressing their commitment to safety management and maintenance to minimize safety accidents.

Kim Young-seop, Director of the Road Policy Division of Gyeonggi Province, stated, “In light of recent incidents such as the collapse of a bridge on the Sejong-Pocheon Expressway, strengthening the safety and efficient operation of private highways is becoming increasingly important. We will thoroughly focus on strengthening road facility management and enhancing ESG management to ensure that the roads are friendly not only to local residents but also to all road users utilizing private highways.”