World’s longest sea bridge between China-Hong Kong to open on October 24

It will slash the travel time between Hong Kong and Zhuhai from three hours to just 30 minutes, further integrating the cities in the Pearl River Delta.

By: PTI | Beijing | Published: October 20, 2018 11:31:33 am

World's longest sea bridge between China-Hong Kong to open on October 24

The construction of the multibillion-dollar bridge had begun in December 2009. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

The world’s longest sea bridge Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge will be thrown open for traffic on October 24, the authorities said Saturday. The 55-kilometer-long bridge, situated in the Lingdingyang waters of the Pearl River Estuary, will be the world’s longest sea bridge, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The construction of the multibillion-dollar bridge had begun in December 2009.

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Bridge to China threatens Hong Kong's pink dolphin

Hong Kong’s rare pale pink dolphins are battling for survival as building work on a 19-mile bridge linking the Asian financial hub with China disrupts the communication and feeding activities of the highly sociable animals, marine experts say.

It will slash the travel time between Hong Kong and Zhuhai from three hours to just 30 minutes, further integrating the cities in the Pearl River Delta.

The bridge will be opened for traffic on October 24, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Authority said.

Earlier, lawmakers in Hong Kong warned that the bridge, which provides a direct link to Hong Kong International Airport, could bring extra traffic to Lantau Island, and cause congestion, South China Morning Post said in a report.

The Transport Department has already capped the number of permits for cross-border private cars at 5,000, it said.

A government-commissioned study from 2016 estimated that 29,100 vehicles would use the bridge daily, by 2030, which was 12 per cent down from a report written in 2008.