This bridge was constructed in 2009, spanning a 55 km stretch of sea connecting Hong Kong with mainland China.
Workers used 420,000 tons of steel to build the bridge, enough to construct 60 Eiffel Towers. Local officials expect the bridge to have a lifespan of up to 120 years and to reduce travel time between the two areas by 60%.
It is reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the inauguration ceremony of the bridge. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge features a serpentine section and an underwater tunnel, linking Lantau Island in Hong Kong with Zhuhai in southern China and the gambling capital of Macau, crossing the Pearl River Estuary.
With a length of 55 km, China’s sea bridge is over 22 km longer than the Channel Tunnel connecting Dover in the United Kingdom to Calais in France.
Aerial view of the bridge.
Inside the passenger waiting area at Hong Kong port where the bridge crosses.
Bus ticket at the waiting area.
The architectural project is the longest sea bridge in the world and the sixth longest bridge on the planet. Officials hope it will boost trade by cutting travel time by 60%.
More importantly, it is a key component of the Greater Bay Area development plan covering 56,500 km2 across 11 cities in southern China.
This sea bridge includes a 22.9 km elevated section and a 6.7 km underwater tunnel, connected by two artificial islands.
In total, 420,000 tons of steel have been used in the project, equivalent to 60 times the steel used to build the Eiffel Tower.
Frank Chan, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Transport and Housing, stated that the travel time between Zhuhai and Hong Kong International Airport will be shortened to about 45 minutes, down from 4 hours previously.
“It will help enhance cooperation in trade, logistics, and tourism between Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau,” he said.
However, this massive project has not been without controversy due to multiple delays, budget overruns, allegations of corruption, and the deaths of several workers.
View of the Eastern Artificial Island of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.
The immigration turnstile system at the bridge’s exit.
The total cost for the project, including the artificial islands, connecting roads, and other cross-border structures, has not been disclosed, but it is estimated to be over $18 billion, raising concerns about its high expense relative to the unclear benefits.
During construction, 7 workers lost their lives and 129 were injured, most due to slips or falls from heights. Supporters of the bridge praise it as an architectural marvel, while others view it as a costly endeavor.
