The Korea Expressway Corporation is ramping up its safety management efforts for key highway facilities ahead of the upcoming rainy season.
On May 15, Lee Sang-jae, acting president of the corporation, visited the Yul-am Bridge on the Seohaean Expressway in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, to personally inspect bridge structures and the preparedness for severe weather, while encouraging on-site personnel. This inspection is part of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's '2026 Focused Safety Inspection' initiative.
During the focused safety inspection period from April 20 to June 19, the Korea Expressway Corporation has identified a total of 124 disaster-vulnerable facilities with high levels of aging and risk for concentrated management. The inspection targets include 33 bridges, 22 slopes, 7 retaining walls, 13 culverts, and 49 disaster prevention facilities.
To enhance objectivity and expertise, the corporation has formed inspection teams in collaboration with private experts from maintenance organizations and relevant academic societies, thoroughly examining risk factors across the highway network.
A notable feature of this inspection is the active use of advanced technology in areas that are difficult to assess visually. Drones are deployed to inspect sections that are hazardous for human access, while Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) equipment is utilized for examining bridge deck conditions.
GPR emits electromagnetic waves to assess the thickness and deterioration of pavement layers, effectively detecting corrosion or cracks within structures that are not visible externally. The corporation aims to significantly enhance the precision of safety inspections through this technology.
Lee emphasized on-site that, "The importance of highway safety management has never been greater, given the combination of extreme rainfall due to climate change and the aging of facilities."
He added, "Through this focused safety inspection, we will proactively identify even minor risk factors and take immediate action. We aim to create a highway environment where the public can travel safely at any time and place through thorough maintenance."
Meanwhile, in response to prolonged instability in the Middle East leading to high oil prices and construction material supply issues, the Korea Expressway Corporation has entered an emergency management system. The corporation has activated a management task force led by executives to stabilize fuel prices at highway gas stations and implement toll exemptions for buses and freight trucks, while monitoring material supply to minimize construction delays. Additionally, regional responsibility has been assigned to headquarters executives, and a practical 'on-site inspection team' is being operated continuously to enhance management of customer-facing facilities such as rest areas and gas stations.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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