China says it has completed the major work of the world’s longest sea bridge after its lighting system was installed and tested.
It took six years and eight years to build the 55-kilometre-long bridge linking Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao.
The bridge consists of a 22.9-kilometre-long main bridge, a 6.7-kilometre-long tunnel and an artificial island off the bridge considered the most technically demanding part of the whole construction.
In the next few weeks, engineers and constructors will test the coordination, various systems and equipment of the bridge before going for inspection and cleaning work, said Zhang Jinwen, project director with the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) Authority.
“The bridge will be put into trial operation after its port project is completed and taken over by customs, inspection and quarantine, and border control authorities,” Zhang said.
In the past 14 years, the regional economy and transport network have undergone tremendous changes, leading authorities to re-assess the utilization rate of the bridge, said Su Yi, assistant to the chief of the HZMB Authority.
However, Su has dismissed worries that the bridge would not have enough traffic, saying, “we have full confidence for the future. We have a whole toolbox of policies at our disposal. It is like playing cards. We can adjust our moves accordingly.”
The bridge will slash travel time from three hours to 30 minutes between Hong Kong and Zhuhai, thereby integrating cities in the Pearl River Delta.
Source: Xinhua
