A flood-prone area in Yangsa-myeon, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon, has been equipped to handle major storms after seven years of comprehensive river improvement work.
The Incheon Metropolitan Government announced Monday it had completed a flood-damage improvement project covering a 3.25-kilometer stretch of Gyosan Stream, running from Gyosan-ri in Yangsa-myeon, Ganghwa-gun, to the coastal line at Bukseong-ri.
The project drew a total of 31.5 billion won ($21.5 million) — 2.5 billion won from the central government and 29 billion won from the city.
Construction began in December 2019, and over roughly seven years workers overhauled levees, river structures, drainage facilities and bridges in a comprehensive effort.
Before the project, Gyosan Stream had a narrow channel and levees that sat below the planned flood level, meaning heavy rainfall could cause water levels to rise rapidly.
Concerns about flooding had persisted as climate change brought more frequent localized downpours — intense bursts of rain falling in a short period — raising the risk of the stream overflowing and inundating surrounding areas.
Incheon focused on improving the structural integrity of the stream itself, drawing on the river master plan and relevant design standards.
The channel width was expanded from the previous 10–40 meters to a uniform 35–40 meters, levees were raised and riverbank revetments were reinforced.
Levee construction and revetment work alone covered 6.5 kilometers. Drainage facilities were also upgraded and four bridges were rebuilt to improve water flow and discharge capacity.
The improvements are expected to increase the volume of water the stream can handle during heavy rainfall, reducing the likelihood of overflow.
The upgraded infrastructure is also expected to prevent flood damage to farmland and residential areas along Gyosan Stream while protecting the lives and property of local residents.
The city has already completed a separate improvement project on Dongnakcheon, another flood-vulnerable stream in the Ganghwa area.
In December last year, Incheon invested 29.6 billion won to finish a 2.9-kilometer channel improvement project along Dongnakcheon near Gapgot-ri in Ganghwa-eup. The channel width was expanded from 20–50 meters to 35–50 meters to increase water-carrying capacity.
With both Gyosan Stream and Dongnakcheon now improved, the flood-response network for the Ganghwa area is expected to be significantly stronger.
Incheon plans to accelerate river improvements beyond Ganghwa, extending the effort to urban waterways as well.
Ongoing projects targeting Seunggi Stream and Jangsu Stream go beyond simple levee reinforcement, pursuing flood control, water-quality improvement and the creation of waterfront public spaces simultaneously.
The city-tailored integrated river project for Seunggi Stream will receive 48 billion won, while the Jangsu Stream improvement project will receive 24 billion won.
The city plans to complete basic and detailed design work by December, break ground in the first half of next year and finish both projects by the first half of 2029.
Going forward, Incheon said it will strengthen regular safety inspections and maintenance of major river facilities and continuously refine its response systems for natural disasters, including heavy rainfall events.
gilbert@heraldcorp.com
