Relieve traffic congestion on the east coast’isolated section’… Snow removal continues overnight

Untimely heavy snow began to fall in the Sokcho and Yangyang areas of Gangwon-do. Thereafter, until 5 pm, in only 5 hours, 10.3 cm and 10.5 cm of snow had accumulated in these areas.

With a lot of snow falling in a short period of time, the entrance to the Donghae Expressway Sokcho IC and Bukyangyang IC was first controlled at around 4:40 pm, followed by full control at around 5:50 pm.

During the holiday season, there was a severe congestion as vehicles that had finished outing during the holiday season were crowded in this section. Vehicles that were not equipped with winter gear were entangled, leading to large and small accidents resulting in a situation in which about 700 vehicles were isolated. While the 28km section between Sokcho IC~Yangyang IC~Bukyangyang IC~Hajodae IC was controlled, many vehicles were intensively isolated in the 10km section towards Seoul from Westernyang IC. Road management authorities put snow removal vehicles and equipment to snow removal on the highway. However, it was not easy for a snowplow to enter because so many vehicles were trapped.

The police and road management authorities are removing one vehicle that was isolated or accidentally removed along with the snow removal work, but it took a considerable amount of time to restore the road, and about 700 vehicles were isolated by 10 p.m.

As a result, the road management authority put 39 snow removal equipment and 126 people in the corresponding section to perform snow removal.

In order to resolve congested vehicles, up to 160 military personnel were also urgently put into the field.

Since then, the Korea Expressway Corporation’s Gangwon Regional Headquarters made every effort to remove snow removal and isolation at 0 o’clock on the 2nd, but the congestion continued at 500m between Sokcho and Yangyang until 0 o’clock on the 2nd.

At that time, there were about 100 isolated vehicles left, and the congestion of both the East Sea Line and the Seoul Yangyang Line was resolved at 0:6 on the 2nd after continued isolation and snow removal work.

Lee Mo (33, female), an office worker who visited Gangneung for business on the 28th and finally arrived in Chuncheon that night, said, “As soon as I entered the expressway, I was congested for more than three hours and kept standing. “I was worried about having to spend the night on the road.”

An official of the Korea Highway Corporation said, “The snow removal vehicle was put into operation, but initially there were many vehicles, so it was difficult to enter the snow removal vehicle.” “Currently, all congestion on the Donghae Line and Seoul Yangyang Line has been resolved. It will continue.”

Meanwhile, according to the Gangwon Meteorological Office, as of 11 pm on the 1st, the snowfall by region was 58 cm in Misi-ryeong, 53.7 cm in Jinburyeong, 38.5 cm in the coast of Yanggu, 38.5 cm in Guryong-ryeong, 33.8 cm in Goseong prefecture, 30.8 cm in Bukgangneung, 23.7 cm in Yangyang, 13.8 cm in Sokcho, and Chuncheon. It was counted as 10.2cm, etc.

The daily rainfall at major points is 97 mm in Jinbu-ryeong, 84.5 mm in Seorak-dong, 84 mm in Guryong-ryeong, 81.7 mm in Hongcheon, 69.5 mm in Yanggu coast, 69.1 mm in Chuncheon, and 54.6 mm in Wonju.

By the afternoon of the 2nd, it is predicted that 10~30cm in Yeongdong and 5~10cm in Yeongseo will fall, so special attention is required. The expected precipitation (until 3 pm on the 2nd) is 20~60㎜.

(Gangwon = News 1)