An aerial view of Seongsu Bridge and the surrounding Seongsu-dong area. [Herald DB]
An aerial view of Seongsu Bridge and the surrounding Seongsu-dong area. [Herald DB]

A roughly 9-centimeter height gap has been found on the southbound entry ramp of Seongsu Bridge in Seoul, prompting the Seoul Metropolitan Government to order an immediate structural safety inspection and a comprehensive survey of other bridges across the city.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Thursday, a faulty joint and height gap were detected on the ramp connecting the Olympic Expressway — heading toward Jamsil — to Seongsu Bridge. The gap was found on an uphill entry section built with soil and a retaining wall, and is believed to have been present since the ramp was first constructed.

City officials said the gap has shown no change for years and does not pose a safety concern.

However, as residents continued to file complaints about the stretch, the city conducted an on-site inspection and repaired sections including guardrail joints. It also decided to commission a full structural safety diagnosis to address public concern.

"This section has been closely monitored and managed for more than 10 years, and there is no risk of collapse or structural safety issues," a Seoul Metropolitan Government official said. "However, to put citizens' safety concerns to rest, we will carry out an immediate safety inspection, take any necessary corrective measures, and manage the site thoroughly to prevent similar concerns from arising."


jshan@heraldcorp.com