Incheon Bridge boosts safety management with in-house technology

A view of Incheon Bridge. (Getty Images Bank)
A view of Incheon Bridge. (Getty Images Bank)

The Incheon Bridge Expressway, operated by Incheon Bridge Co., was named the top performer in the 2025 evaluation of privately funded expressway operations. Four other expressways were rated "excellent": the Oksan-Ochang Expressway, operated by Oksan Ochang Expressway Co., and the Gwangju-Wonju Expressway, operated by J Yeongdong Expressway Co. The Yongin-Seoul Expressway, operated by Gyeongsu Expressway Co., and the Seosuwon-Pyeongtaek Expressway, operated by Gyeonggi Expressway Co., also received the rating.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport released these findings Friday, unveiling the 2025 operational performance evaluation results for 23 privately funded expressways nationwide.

The ministry evaluates and announces the operational performance of privately funded expressways that have been open for more than a year, based on the Toll Road Act. The annual review aims to improve user convenience and safety and boost management efficiency.

This year's evaluation involved experts in roads, traffic, safety and accounting, along with expressway users who took part directly in on-site inspections of every route. In particular, civic groups representing truck and bus drivers were enlisted as evaluators. They assessed items that matter most from users' perspectives, including road surface conditions such as potholes, and the convenience of rest areas and drowsy-driving rest stops. The evaluation also incorporated on-the-ground feedback on inconveniences and areas needing improvement.

Incheon Bridge, named the top performer, has been working to strengthen its safety and management capabilities. It has developed and deployed its own accident-prevention radar sensors to prevent autonomous vehicles from rear-ending road workers, a risk that has recently surged.

Other privately funded expressways have also made various efforts to ease chronic traffic bottlenecks and respond to electric vehicle fires. The Gwangju-Wonju Expressway reorganized lanes at a bottleneck section, raising traffic speeds by 13 kilometers per hour. The Seosuwon-Osan-Pyeongtaek Expressway partnered with relevant agencies to secure electric vehicle fire-suppression equipment, boosting its ability to respond to accidents.

The ministry plans to strengthen follow-up management by promptly addressing shortcomings identified in the evaluation. It will also share best practices and award ministerial commendations and cash prizes to the operators of the highly rated expressways.

Kim Hyo-jung, director general of the ministry's Road Bureau, said, "We plan to continuously improve road safety and convenience, as well as our operational and management standards, by strengthening proactive road maintenance and cleaning systems so that people can use privately funded expressways with confidence."


hwshin@heraldcorp.com