Skip to main content

South Korea’s future roads incorporating technologies

Advanced technologies will be incorporated into future road developments in South Korea.
November 1, 2019 Read time: 1 min

The 10-year programme calls for smart road technology to be incorporated into expressway routes, with charging systems for EVs as they are being driven as well as technology to remove dust and other contaminants. The country’s expressways will be ready for use by self-driving cars by 2024 and over 100 projects have already been planned.

Improving safety will be another focus for the smart road developments with the target of cutting casualties from crashes by 30%. Introducing smart expressways is also expected to lower maintenance needs and running costs by 30%, reducing noise pollution by 20% end emissions by 15%, while simultaneously lowering congestion by 30%.

New traffic control technology will be introduced to message self-driving vehicles when traffic control lights will change while other systems will supply information for factors such as lane width. Around 5,500km of the busiest highways will be upgraded first as the programme is rolled out across the country. Detailed 3D mapping data will be collated as part of the programme, with local communications companies SK Telecom and KT already carrying out necessary research work.


 

Related Content

  • Bitumen technology: cutting maintenance costs
    April 8, 2022
    Thicklift in Utah, epoxy modification for Ethiopia and inbuilt de-icing in South Korea - a focus on technologies designed to lower maintenance and rehabilitation costs over the life of a pavement
  • Connected vehicles: implications for road networks and mobility
    May 15, 2019
    Mobility services are expected to undergo spectacular changes within the next two decades with the introduction and widespread use of connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) technology. However, the transition phase from human driving to self-driving will be gradual, requiring incremental interventions on the physical and digital road network to allow it to cope with mixed vehicular traffic. Cities such as Dubai have embraced the challenge by setting a target to reach 25% driverless trips by 2030 as part o
  • Make the case for electronic tolling, ASECAP conference delegates heard
    September 14, 2015
    Mobility pricing and electronic tolling is the future, delegates to a recent ASECAP Study Days conference, reports Geoff Hadwick at the Lisbon event. The international road tolling industry is failing to make its case and the sector is losing out to other social and political lobby groups. As a result, “tolling is still on the sidelines”, according to the head of the Washington-based International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association. IBTTA chief executive Pat Jones issued his stark warning at the
  • Solving the Nation’s Roadwork Crisis with Greater Industry Collaboration
    December 31, 2024
    Nick Smee, Business Unit Director of Infrastructure at Causeway, discusses roadworks for the UK.