Spanning 34 miles across the Pearl River Delta, theHong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge is the longest sea crossing ever built, linking the southernChinesecities of Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau. The 55km structure was completed after nine years of construction at a cost of around £15bn.
It has significantly reduced travel times between the three cities, turning what was previously an hour-long ferry journey into a drive of about 40 minutes. The bridge forms part of a wider effort to improve transport connections across the Greater Bay Area, a region theChinesegovernment is developing into a major economic hub. By linking Hong Kong and Macau more directly with cities in Guangdong province, the crossing is intended to support trade and movement across the region.
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Its design combines multiple elements, including a series of long-span bridges, artificial islands and connecting roads.
The main section features three navigation channel bridges — Jiuzhou, Jianghai and Qingzhou — built to allow large vessels to pass through one of China’s busiest shipping areas.
Engineers had to account for difficult conditions, including frequent typhoons and a complex marine environment. The bridge uses single-column piers embedded in the seabed to reduce disruption to water flow and limit the impact on local wildlife, including the Chinese white dolphin.
The three main bridges are cable-supported, each with a distinct tower design. These were intended to give the crossing a consistent but varied appearance, particularly given its visibility from land, sea and air.
The Jiuzhou Bridge retains its original sail-shaped towers following revisions during the detailed design phase.
Engineering firm Arup contributed to several parts of the project, including early-stage design work, artificial island development and major road and tunnel links on the Hong Kong and Macau sides.
Source: Daily Express :: World Feed
