2 km of protective barriers to be installed or replaced in school zones this year
23 school zones to get new or upgraded barriers to prevent jaywalking and secure safe commuting routes; LED road studs added to 119 crosswalks for safer walking at night and in rain
Nowon-gu is putting children and pedestrian safety first, upgrading school zones and walking infrastructure to build a safer environment across the district.
The district, which is home to 42 elementary schools, has been rolling out tailored improvements since conducting a comprehensive safety survey of school commuting routes in 2023. This year's priorities are expanding LED road-stud installations and overhauling protective barriers and other safety fixtures.
LED road studs are being added to runway-style crosswalks at 26 school zones, covering 134 crosswalk surfaces. Embedding the studs in the pavement allows drivers and pedestrians to spot crosswalks easily even in poor visibility — rain, darkness or fog. Residents have responded warmly to the upgrades, particularly because most elementary schools sit next to densely packed residential neighborhoods where nighttime pedestrian conditions have long needed improvement.
By the end of this year, roughly 75 percent of all school-zone crosswalks in the district will have LED road studs. The district secured 200 million won ($146,000) from the Seoul Metropolitan Government budget this year and plans to pursue full funding from the city next year to reach 100 percent coverage.
Aging protective barriers are also being actively replaced. The barriers prevent jaywalking and separate vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Sections being replaced this year include about 300 meters along Hwarang-ro near Samyuk Elementary School and 80 meters near Kkumteo Kindergarten, totaling 2 kilometers.
The work zones this year cover areas near 23 kindergartens and elementary schools, most of which have stainless-steel barriers installed in 2006. After two decades, the district is replacing them not only because of durability concerns but also to eliminate aesthetic problems such as light reflection, applying new designs suited to each location.
The district is also refurbishing traffic safety fixtures to match conditions at each school zone. Work targeting all 112 school zones in the district includes anti-skid paving, repainting road markings, and maintaining traffic signs and speed-warning signs. This year, about 9,300 square meters of anti-skid pavement have been laid to improve driver visibility.
The district currently deploys 750 volunteers through its "School Zone Traffic Support Corps," a senior public-service employment program, to help children cross safely on their way to school. On Aug. 13, ahead of the second-semester school opening, the corps held job training to sharpen on-site response skills and share safety protocols. District officials note that continuous upkeep of traffic safety infrastructure — including reinforcing fixtures — is essential to ensure pedestrian safety during school vacations and after dismissal hours. To that end, staff at the 19 neighborhood community centers report any damaged or hazardous fixtures spotted during safety patrols, and the traffic management division addresses them immediately.
Refurbishing aging traffic facilities is also improving the district's streetscape. The Yonghwa underground pedestrian passage — heavily used by students from Sangwol Elementary School and Yonghwa Girls' High School as well as local residents — is undergoing repair and reinforcement work informed by a public-design consultation. Old murals are being removed, and universal design principles are being applied to the new wall surfaces to create a fresh atmosphere and improve visibility.
"Not a single hazard on the school routes children walk every day should be overlooked," Nowon-gu District Mayor Seo Jun-o said. "We will inspect facilities that need improvement on the ground ourselves and fix them quickly, so that every pedestrian can walk our streets with confidence."
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
