China opens the longest sea bridge in the world

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday inaugurated the longest sea bridge in the world on the Pearl River Delta. This 55 km bridge connects Hong Kong and Macau to Zhuhai on the Chinese mainland. For comparison: The Golden Gate Bridge over San Francisco Bay, in the Pacific Ocean, has a length of about 2.7 km.

Cars can already use the bridge on Tuesdays, as from Wednesday, a bus (private, no public transport) will also be provided. Instead of four hours, a trip from Zhuhai or Macau to Hong Kong takes about thirty minutes by car. But the bridge is not easily accessible. Who wants to cross first must obtain a permit and pay a toll. About 9,000 motorists should use the bridge each day.

Construction work began in 2009 on mainland China and Hong Kong, an independent administrative region. China, in 2011. In fact, the bridge was to be ready in 2016, but construction was slowed down. In total, construction accounted for about $ 20 billion (17.5 billion euros).

Submarine

Part of the gigantic construction consists of a submarine tunnel nearly seven kilometers long, so that ships can still cross the Pearl River Delta. can navigate. The region around this delta is the fastest growing region in China, but also in terms of the share of the gross national product.

The bridge must withstand natural violence, such as the recent Mangkhut cyclone in the area. About 400,000 tons of steel were used for construction.

The construction of the bridge has also been the subject of much criticism in recent years. For example, the bridge gives China, politically and economically, more power and influence over the autonomous regions of Hong Kong and Macao.

In addition, human rights groups pointed out that the construction of the bridge had killed twenty people. In addition, about 500 people were injured during construction. In addition, the construction would have had negative effects on the environment and life at sea. The population of dolphins, for example, would have decreased by almost 40%, reports the South China Morning Post.