The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, stretching 34 miles across the Pearl River Delta, holds the title of the world’s longest sea crossing. This remarkable structure connects the cities of Hong Kong, Zhuhai, and Macau, spanning a distance of 55km. The construction of this bridge took nine years and cost approximately £15 billion.
Significantly reducing travel time between the cities, the bridge has transformed the previous hour-long ferry journey into a mere 40-minute drive. It is a key component of a broader plan to improve transportation links in the Greater Bay Area, an economic focal point being cultivated by Beijing.
By providing a more direct link between Hong Kong, Macau, and Guangdong province cities, the bridge aims to boost trade and mobility in the region. Its construction involved various critical elements such as long-span bridges, artificial islands, and connecting roadways.
The primary segment of the bridge includes three navigation channel bridges named Jiuzhou, Jianghai, and Qingzhou, ensuring smooth passage for large vessels in one of China’s busiest maritime regions.
Facing challenges like severe typhoons and harsh marine conditions, engineers employed innovative techniques such as single-column piers to minimize disruption to water flow and protect local wildlife, notably the Chinese white dolphin. The cable-supported structures of the main bridges feature distinctive tower designs for a visually striking appearance visible from different vantage points.
Arup, a renowned engineering consultancy, played a significant role in various aspects of the project, including preliminary design, artificial island construction, and essential road and tunnel connections on the Hong Kong and Macau ends.
The bridge is integrated into the broader transport network through additional infrastructure like boundary crossing facilities and the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link. Since its opening, it has become a vital component of the region’s transport system, underscoring China’s ambitious infrastructure objectives and the growing necessity for efficient connections between major cities.
Originally scheduled for a late 2016 opening, the bridge was officially inaugurated in October 2018 by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Built to withstand earthquakes and typhoons, the bridge used 400,000 tonnes of steel in its construction.
According to Guangdong News, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge has witnessed over 10 million northbound trips by single-plate vehicles from Hong Kong and Macau as of May 25, with daily traffic averaging 11,000 trips.
