Gyeonggi Province Installs Heated Walkway on School Route Using Special Adjustment Grant
Uiwang City has completed installation of a heated walkway in front of Morak Elementary School to prepare for abnormal weather and protect students during their commute. Officials say the system should allow students to get to school safely even during heavy snowfall.
On the 23rd, the city announced it used a 200 million KRW (about 150,000 USD) special adjustment grant from Gyeonggi Province to install the heated walkway along approximately a 200 m section in Ojeon-dong, in front of Morak Elementary School.
The school route has a steep incline and becomes especially slippery during heavy snow, so the city installed the heating system to reduce the risk of falls.
Workers embedded heating film beneath the sidewalk pavers. The system activates automatically when it snows, melting accumulation quickly to keep the path safe for pedestrians. A smart control system allows the operations center to control it remotely, enabling an immediate response during snowfall.
The city plans to put the heated walkway into full operation this coming winter. By completing construction early to prepare for unpredictable weather, officials expect the measure to prevent slip-and-fall accidents and ease concerns among parents and residents.
Mayor Kim Seong-je said, “We proactively expanded safety facilities on school routes to prepare for heavy snow and extreme cold caused by abnormal weather. We will do our best to maintain these safety features so all residents can feel secure throughout the winter.”
Moving forward, Uiwang plans to expand heated sidewalks primarily on steep school routes and to introduce additional brine-spraying devices to further strengthen winter pedestrian safety.
Uiwang — Seung-sik Lee, Reporter (thankslee57@viva100.com)
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