The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge is the longest bridge in the world. This is a whole grandiose project, which consists of a series of bridges and underwater tunnels crossing the Pearl River Delta. Bridges and tunnels connect Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau, the largest cities in the region.
The length of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge is 55 km. There are 6 traffic lanes across the bridge.
 |
| Hong Kong Zhuhai Macau Bridge |
The new sea bridge in China has become a unique object, which does not yet exist in the whole world.
Bridge Construction
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge was designed by the British firm Arup Group and built by the Chinese China Communications Construction Co. The total cost of building the bridge was over $ 11 billion.
 |
| Hong Kong Zhuhai Macau Bridge |
Of the 55 km of the total length of the object, 38 km are bridges. The main part of the bridge is 29.6 km long, plus a 6.7 km underwater tunnel, a 22.9 km main bridge and three sections of cable-stayed bridges with spans ranging from 280 to 460 meters. Thanks to the new bridge, travel time between different parts of China is reduced from four hours to 30 minutes.
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, the longest in the world, weighs more than 400 tons. According to experts, the bridge should stand up to 120 years. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge is designed in such a way that typhoons, earthquakes and hurricanes are not afraid of the bridge and the tunnel.
The tunnel is located at a depth of 48 meters, so it is designed to withstand large water and soil masses. For this reason, the most advanced technologies were selected for the construction of the structure, which can ensure that all safety requirements are met.
 |
| Hong Kong Zhuhai Macau Bridge |
As for the speed of movement on the bridge and tunnel, here it is limited to 100 km / h. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge in the near future will be used exclusively by buses and transport for the transport of passengers and goods. Taxis will not be allowed here, and private cars will be able to cross the bridge only after special permission. When traveling between Hong Kong and the mainland, border control is mandatory. This is why two immigration control points were built.
The design of the facility took into account the fact that the area is one of the most navigable in China. Therefore, the bridge spans are located at a special height, and the distance between the supports is provided in order not to disrupt the movement of ships.
On the west side, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge overlooks the artificial island of Gongbei, on the east side - on the artificial island near the Hong Kong airport, where planes take off and land, for this reason, the designers did everything necessary to comply with certain restrictions on the height of the bridge.
 |
| Hong Kong Zhuhai Macau Bridge |
History
The idea to connect Hong Kong and Guangdong province came from the Chinese government back in 1980. In 2003, it was decided to start rough calculations and develop a project to create a grandiose bridge that would connect the three cities. Hundreds of research organizations were involved in the design of the facility.
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge project was finally approved in February 2008, and the construction itself began in December 2009 and was due to be completed in 2016. But the opening was continually delayed.
And finally, at the beginning of October 2018, buses opened on the bridge. And on October 23, 2018, the official opening of the world's longest Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge took place.
Other overall axles
An interesting fact is that the longest bridges of similar structures are also located in China and were built over the past decades.
In 2011, the 42-kilometer Qingdao Bridge in eastern China was opened, linking the port city of Qingdao with Huangdao Island in Jiaozhou Bay. Another bridge called Donghai with a length of over 32 km connects Shanghai with the city of Ningbo and the port of Yangshan. The Ran Yang Bridge in China is 35 km long. Another bridge called Hangzhou in China stretches for 35 km. One of the largest bridges is also considered to be the 38 km long bridge in the USA in the state of Louisiana.
 |
| Hong Kong Zhuhai Macau Bridge |
How to get there
GPS coordinates: 22 ° 16'48 ″ s. NS. 113 ° 46′44 ″ in. etc.
You can get to the bridge from three cities that are connected by the bridge: Zhuhai, Macau, Hong Kong.
From Macau
To get to the bridge from Macau and Zhuhai, you must first get to the Macau Boundary Crossing Facilities located along Av. da Ponte da Amizade. After passing control and obtaining permission, you can go to the bridge.
From Hong Kong
To get to the bridge from the city, you also need to first get to the Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities, which is located on the artificial island of Gongbei.