The Seoul Metropolitan Government said on Jan. 1 that the number of road depressions (potholes) that occurred on city roads last year fell about 27% from the recent five-year average for the same period.
From January to November last year, there were 18,948 potholes in Seoul, down 26.6% from the recent five-year average of 25,816 for the same period.
Even though cumulative precipitation during the same period reached 1,541 mm, exceeding the recent five-year average of 1,481 mm, potholes actually decreased.
Citizen complaints also decreased. From January to September last year, there were 15,771 complaints related to road damage, down about 8% from the recent three-year average of 17,044 for the same period.
As road damage declines, overall road management expense is also expected to be reduced.
A city official said the "Seoul road paving standard model," introduced in response to climate change, has proven effective.
The Seoul road paving standard model refers to a standardized method for high-rigidity, high-durability paving technology developed to address frequent damage to urban roads caused by climate change such as heat waves and heavy rain.
After introducing high-rigidity concrete paving at central bus stops in 2010, the city has gradually verified and expanded the application of various new materials and construction methods.
Based on this, the Seoul road paving standard model was completed in Dec. 2024, and it has been applied to major roads since March last year.
The city plans to expand climate-responsive and functional paving technologies, focusing on general lanes.
In particular, it plans to expand sections applying the road paving standard model that is resistant to heat waves and heavy rain, focusing on major arterial roads.
Han Byeong-yong, head of the Seoul Disaster and Safety Headquarters, said the results of the strong road paving standard model were clearly confirmed in numbers and added that the city will expand the sections of application to improve road safety and travel convenience that citizens can feel in daily life.