The world’s longest sea bridge Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge will open on Oct. 24, the authorities said today.
Situated in the Lingdingyang waters of the Pearl River Estuary, it will be the world’s longest sea bridge, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
The construction of the multi-billion-dollar bridge had begun in December 2009.
It will reduce the travel time between Hong Kong and Zhuhai from three hours to 30 minutes, further integrating the cities in the Pearl River Delta.
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 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 percent down from a report written in 2008.