Taebaek City to Prevent Icy Roads Before Snowfall... Expands Road Heating Cables to 36 Locations

Implementing a five-month snow-removal plan from November

Deploying 28 vehicles and 38 dedicated personnel

Operating automatic brine-spraying systems at 17 locations

Monitoring snow-removal operations in real time via GPS

Taebaek City in Gangwon Province, led by Mayor Lee Sang-ho, will expand road heating cables and improve its snowplow operations in preparation for heavy snowfall and icy roads this winter. Taking into account the area's many high-altitude and steep roads, the city is focusing on reducing the risk of icy roads before snowfall begins.

Taebaek City Activates Proactive Winter Snow Removal System Before Snowfall. Photo courtesy of Taebaek City.

Taebaek City announced on October 27 that it will implement its comprehensive road snow-removal plan for the 2026-2027 winter season for five months, from November 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027. The city will invest 3.259 billion won and deploy 28 snow-removal vehicles and 38 dedicated personnel across 343 routes covering 303.75 kilometers.

The city will expand smart snow-removal facilities on roads that frequently ice over. It will add road heating cables at seven locations by the end of this year, bringing the total to 36, up from the 29 locations where they are currently installed. The city will also operate 17 automatic brine-spraying systems installed on major mountain passes, including Dumundongjae and Songijae, and on other roads vulnerable to icing.

The road heating cables operate in response to road conditions, including temperature and humidity, to prevent icy surfaces. The automatic brine-spraying systems apply de-icing agents at the onset of snowfall to reduce snow accumulation and prevent roads from freezing. The city plans to strengthen its initial response on vulnerable roads before snow-removal vehicles arrive.

This year, the city will also introduce staggered contracts for its leased snow-removal vehicles, dividing them into two groups with different contract periods. The aim is to extend the vehicles' operating period within the existing budget and prepare for both early- and late-season snowfall.

GPS devices will be installed in the 23 leased vehicles to monitor their routes and work status in real time. The city will also link up with its integrated CCTV monitoring center to check snow accumulation and traffic conditions on major roads.

The city plans to secure an additional 3,360 tons of snow-removal materials, including 3,000 tons of salt, 350 tons of liquid de-icer, and 10 tons of calcium chloride. It will establish a temporary forward supply base for snow-removal materials at the Yongyeon Cave parking lot to quickly deliver de-icer to vulnerable areas, including Dumundongjae.

The city will pre-treat vulnerable roads with de-icer based on snowfall forecasts and temperature changes, and operate a phased emergency staffing system in preparation for snowfall during commuting hours and at night. In cooperation with eight neighborhood administrative welfare centers and relevant organizations, it will also clear snow from village access roads and local residential streets.

A Taebaek City official said, "Road safety in winter depends not only on how quickly snow is cleared after it falls, but also on how thoroughly we prepare beforehand. We will create winter road conditions that allow residents to travel with peace of mind."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.