Province secures 125 million won ($80,400) for road pavement probe around aging structures
Gyeonggi Province's project to investigate and analyze road pavement conditions around aging structures has been selected for support under the "2026 Local Government Disaster Prevention Activity Support Project" competition organized by the Korea Local Finance Association.
The province announced Sunday it had secured 125 million won ($80,400) in project funding and would launch a preemptive survey of disaster warning signs in road pavement around aging structures such as deteriorating bridges.
Gyeonggi Province said it applied to the competition with a scientific road management plan aimed at identifying risk factors around aging bridge structures before they become hazardous, and that the plan was recognized for the excellence of its project design.
The province conceived the project on the observation that recurring structural cracks and pothole formation around aging structures may serve as early warning signs of major disasters.
The province plans to use data from its existing Gyeonggi Road Pavement Management System (GR-PMS) to identify sections around aging bridges and structures that are particularly vulnerable to damage. It will then conduct on-site investigations in those high-risk zones — including pavement core sampling — to physically diagnose signs of reduced load-bearing capacity and cavity formation beneath the surface layer.
The province said it expects the findings to be integrated with the road pavement management system currently operated by its road safety division, enabling timely repairs on local roads and generating medium- to long-term savings on road maintenance costs.
"We will establish a scientific road management system that goes beyond simple pavement maintenance to proactively address risk factors around aging structures," said Pyo Myeong-gyu, head of the Gyeonggi Province Road Safety Division. "We will do our utmost to build a tight road safety net and create an environment where residents can travel with peace of mind."
pjh@heraldcorp.com
