The Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau
Bridge (HKZMB) is a complex sea-crossing project,
which consists of a series of three cable-stayed
bridges and
one undersea
tunnel spanning
the Lingdingyang channel, that
connects Hong
Kong with Macau and Zhuhai, three major cities on the Pearl
River Delta in China. The 55-kilometre (34 miles)
link is thought to have cost 110 billion yuan ($15.9 billion). With its length, it is
among the world's longest and become one of the landmarks within the
area.
Construction
formally
began on 15 December 2009. The main bridge section is 22.9
kilometres (14.2 mi) long and includes three cable-stayed
spans between 280 and 460 metres (920 and 1,510 ft).The last
bridge tower was erected on 2 June 2016. The last
straighted-element of the 4,860-metre-long (15,940 ft)
straight section of the undersea tunnel was installed on 12 July 2016.
The final tunnel joint was installed on the 2 May 2017. The
construction of the main 29.6-kilometre (18.4 mi) structure,
both the 22.9-kilometre (14.2 mi) bridge section and the
6.7-kilometre (4.2 mi) undersea tunnel, was formally declared
complete on 7 July 2017.
Originally
set to be
opened to traffic in October 2016, the project
was a year late
and was officially opened on Tuesday 23rd October,
with the bridge
opening for traffic from 9am the following day, Wednesday
24th.
Despite both
Hong Kong and Macau driving on the left, traffic on the
bridge travels on the right. |
