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An aerial perspective of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge in Zhuhai, Guangdong, China. TPG/Getty ImagesThe longest sea-crossing bridge globally has officially opened, linking mainland China to Hong Kong. Spanning 34 miles (55 kilometers), this bridge, which cost $20 billion and took nine years to build, slashes travel time between Hong Kong, Zhuhai, and Macao from 3 hours to just 30 minutes.
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, as it is formally named, features three cable-stayed bridges, a submerged tunnel, and four man-made islands. Designed to endure earthquakes, typhoons, and potential ship collisions, the bridge incorporates 400,000 tons (363,000 metric tons) of steel for reinforcement. This amount is 4.5 times the steel used in San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, as reported by Travel Wire Asia.
To support the bridge's structure, artificial islands were constructed in shallow waters. Two of these islands serve as access points for a 4-mile (6.7-kilometer) tunnel, allowing vehicles to pass beneath one of the world's busiest shipping routes.
Although the bridge eliminates travel obstacles for some, it introduces new restrictions for others. Hong Kong residents driving private vehicles must obtain special permits or use a paid shuttle service, while still undergoing immigration checks.
This project has sparked political concerns, leaving many citizens and analysts skeptical. Martin Sebena, a Ph.D. student at the University of Hong Kong and research fellow at the Institute of Asian Studies in Slovakia, noted that some see the bridge as a means of diverting taxpayer funds to benefit local and Chinese oligarchs, whose companies were involved in its construction.
Hong Kong, once a British colony, transitioned to a special administrative region of China in 1997. Under the agreement, China granted Hong Kong significant autonomy in its economic and social systems for 50 years post-handover. Similarly, Macao, a historic Portuguese colony, was returned to China in 1999 with assurances that its way of life would remain largely unchanged for 50 years. The bridge linking these regions to mainland China may have profound political and cultural implications in the future.
While it's widely reported that nine workers lost their lives and 275 were injured during the construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the project also threatens the survival of the endangered Chinese white dolphins inhabiting the Pearl River Delta.
