'10cm Height Difference' Also Found on Dongjak Bridge... "No Safety Concerns"

[Anchor]

Following reports of a height difference of about 9 cm on Seoul's Seongsu Bridge, an 8 cm gap has now been discovered on Dongjak Bridge as well. The Seoul Metropolitan Government has stated there are no safety issues.

[Reporter] Kim Minjun reports.

[Reporter]

The entry section on the northern end of Dongjak Bridge in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

Countless vehicles pass through here every day to cross the bridge, and a notice sign from the Seoul Metropolitan Government is posted on one side, stating that "structural measurements are underway to check stability."

At the point where two sections of the entry bridge pier connect, as you can see, these level differences have formed.

If you measure it directly, you can see that the length is about 10 cm.

Earlier this month, a height difference of about 9 cm was also confirmed at the entrance of Seongsu Bridge in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, prompting a series of reports from citizens. Now, in less than a month, a similar gap has been found on another bridge.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government explained, "The height differences occurred because the sand and soil-based ground on both bridges has gradually eroded."

Regarding the gap on Dongjak Bridge, it added, "It was first identified in 2023 and has been periodically inspected since then, and there are no safety issues."

[Seoul Metropolitan Government Official: Since it is a soil section, as time passes, air will escape a bit and it will settle slightly. The height difference formed during that process.]

Experts point out that since Dongjak Bridge has been in use for over 40 years since its completion in 1984, it is necessary to reinforce it by utilizing a "grouting" method, which injects concrete and other materials into the unstable ground.

[Lee Su-gon / Former Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Seoul: (The area near the entrance) is a riverbed, so I think sand could wash out little bit by little bit. Then, we need to do grouting there to prevent it from coming out further (and reinforce it).]

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is currently conducting a full inspection of the approach roads of bridges over the Han River, and plans to tear up the road pavement at the Seongsu Bridge site on the 29th to check the safety of the ground beneath the height difference.

(Video by Jang Woon-seok, Video Editing by Lee Hong-myung)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.