China to open world’s longest sea bridge for traffic
China to open the world’s longest sea bridge for public on 23rd October 2018. The 55 km long bridge linking Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao took six years of preparations and eight years for construction.
Construction of the bridge began on 15 December 2009 and is expected to reduce travel time from Hong Kong to mainland China from three hours to 30 minutes.
Major work on the bridge consisted of a 22.9 km long main bridge, a 6.7 km long tunnel and an artificial island off the bridge, which is considered the most technically demanding part of the whole construction.
Engineers and constructors have tested the coordination of the bridge’s various systems and equipment and the lighting fitted, according to Zhang Jinwen, project director of the Hong Kong Zhuhai Macao Bridge (HZMB) Authority.
The inauguration of the bridge will mark a milestone in Beijing’s broader push to integrate the ‘Greater Bay Area’ – an evolving dynamic and business hub comprising Hong Kong, Macau and nine Guangdong province cities.
The bridge will put the three cities within an hour’s commute of each other, and is expected to boost economic development and tourism in Hong Kong, which has invested HK$ 120 billion in the project.
The bridge recently withstood Super typhoon Mangkhut which caused much damage in Hong kong and mainland China.