Boksansageori intersection in Jung-gu, Ulsan, one of seven sites targeted under the city's 2026 accident-prone intersection improvement project. [Naver Maps capture]
Boksansageori intersection in Jung-gu, Ulsan, one of seven sites targeted under the city's 2026 accident-prone intersection improvement project. [Naver Maps capture]

Ulsan will improve safety at its most accident-prone intersections through lane realignments, new traffic islands and crosswalks, and the installation of jaywalking barriers — changes aimed at protecting both drivers and pedestrians.

The city has completed detailed engineering designs for seven intersections and will spend 1 billion won ($704,000) on the improvement project, running from this month through December. The seven sites are: in Jung-gu, Boksansageori and Dongcheongyosageori; in Nam-gu, Samhogyo Nam intersection and Dallisageori; in Dong-gu, Beondeoksageori; and in Ulju-gun, Daedeoktsamgeori and Gyodong-ro.

Since last year, the city has worked with the Ulsan branch of the Korean National Police Agency and the Korea Road Traffic Authority to draw up tailored improvement plans for each site, selecting locations where infrastructure upgrades are expected to produce the greatest reduction in accidents.

Boksansageori in Jung-gu recorded the highest number of accidents among the seven sites — 15 in 2024 — driven largely by signal violations by vehicles entering from the Okgyo-dong direction and frequent blockages caused by vehicles stopping in the right-turn lane. The city will reconfigure the approach lane from that direction.

Dongcheongyosageori, also in Jung-gu, saw six accidents in 2024, many involving pedestrians jaywalking across the top of an underpass. Jaywalking barriers will be installed to address the problem.

Samhogyo Nam intersection in Nam-gu recorded eight accidents, attributed to an insufficient horizontal curve radius that causes straight-traveling vehicles to drift out of their lane, and to traffic signals positioned too far from the stop line to be visible to drivers. The lane alignment will be straightened as part of the project.

Dallisageori in Nam-gu had six accidents, largely because the turning radius for right-turning vehicles is too tight, causing them to swing into the second lane. The city will widen the road corner to improve sightlines and install a forward-facing traffic signal.

Beondeoksageori in Dong-gu had no crosswalk, leading pedestrians to jaywalk and resulting in seven accidents. A crosswalk will be installed.

Daedeoktsamgeori in Ulju-gun recorded four accidents, with drivers frequently forcing their way into the intersection or braking sharply because the traffic signal is too far from the stop line. A forward-facing signal will be added.

Gyodong-ro in Ulju-gun had 13 accidents due to speeding caused by a lack of speed-reduction infrastructure. The city will install raised crosswalks — elevated above the standard road surface — to slow traffic.

Through the accident-prone intersection improvement project, the city has upgraded 19 sites to date. At Okbyeonsageori in Nam-gu, the number of accidents fell 55.2 percent after improvements were made.

"This project takes a structural approach to creating a safer traffic environment for both drivers and pedestrians, prioritizing sites where improvements are expected to have the greatest impact," a city official said.


cityblue@heraldcorp.com