China Builds a Modern Day Wonder

Nazeer Waris

China has constructed the longest sea crossing by building a 55- km long bridge-tunnel system which connect Hong Kong and Macau with Chinese port city of Zuhai.

It is known as Hong Kong-Zuhai-Macau Bridge. In short, it is called HZMB. It includes a series of three cable-stayed bridges, an undersea tunnel and four artificial islands.

It was thrown open for public in October 2018 after inauguration at the hands of Chinese President Xi Jinping. One may ask, what is that makes HZMB exceptional.

It is the longest sea crossing in the world. That makes it different from a bridge. It is a mix of bridge and undersea tunnel.

It has three main sections: the main bridge which is 29.6 km and spans over Pearl River estuary; the Hong Kong Link Road (12 km) in the east; and, Zuhai Link Road (13 km).

The main bridge ZuhaiMacao Port Artificial Island consists of 22.9 km bridge and a 6.7 km immersed tube undersea tunnel that runs between two artificial islands.

These islands have been named Blue Dolphin Island and white Dolphin Island. The crossing substantially cuts the travelling time between Hong Kong, Macao and Zuhai while further connecting Hong Kong to the major cities of the Greater Bay area.

The work on HZMB started in 2009 and completed in October 2017. Earlier, travellers used to cover the distance by a ferry in about four hours. Now a car or bus will take only 40 minutes.

However, the authorities are not allowing everyone to use the bridge. It monitors the movement and a special permit is issued for those who wish to travel.

The construction cost of the bridge came to $18.8 billion. Tourists and visitors can take a bus from Macao to travel to Hong Kong on a 40-minutes journey which provides breathtaking scenery.

Designed to withstand earthquakes and typhoons, it was built using 400,000 tons of steel, enough to build 60 Eiffel Towers. About 30km of its total length crosses the sea of the Pearl River delta.

To allow ships through, a 6.7 km section in the middle dips into an undersea tunnel that runs between two artificial islands. The HZMB is being termed a modern day wonder.