The Seoul Gwangjin District has completed the maintenance of the wooden deck walking trail at the entrance of Achasan and opened it to the public on September 26.
The maintenance area covers approximately a 120-meter section from the Achasan Harmony Plaza in Gwangjang-dong 381-53 to the Marshland intersection. Concerns over safety accidents were raised due to aging stone walls and damaged wooden decks. Therefore, the district initiated this maintenance to create a safe and pleasant walking environment.
The construction was carried out over eight months from February to September 2024 after securing special grants for the first and second halves of the year, with a total investment of 1.8 billion KRW.
The main aspects of maintenance include the installation of retaining walls, the repair of wooden decks, the installation of safety handrails, the maintenance of drainage channels, the creation of four bench areas, and the planting of trees. Notably, during the construction process, it was found that the existing stone wall foundation was more fragile than expected, leading the district to modify the design from a composite retaining wall to a gravity retaining wall. The stability was ensured by considering the load on the wooden deck through soil investigation and expert consultation, alongside conducting ground-bearing tests and grouting work to enhance completeness.
Additionally, the slope of the walking trail was lowered, and anti-slip construction was applied to enhance walking safety. Furthermore, various flowering shrubs such as Cornus officinalis, apricot trees, hydrangeas, and yellow azaleas—amounting to 11,000 plants—and 3,500 ground cover plants were planted to provide a scenic view throughout the seasons.
Kim Kyung-ho, the Mayor of Gwangjin District, stated, “With this maintenance, citizens now have a safe walking environment from the start of their hike in Achasan. We expect an increase in visitors as a pleasant walking trail has been established.”
