[ad_1]
HONG KONG – China officially opened Tuesday the longest sea bridge in the world after its leader, Xi Jinping, and local officials inaugurated the 34-mile structure that crosses the Pearl River Delta to link Hong Kong with Macau and to Zhuhai City, Mainland China.
The project, which includes bridge sections and artificial islands connected by a 4 km tunnel west of Hong Kong airport, has exceeded the multi-billion dollar budget and has been delayed for two years. . The Chinese authorities expect the bridge to significantly reduce driving time between the two banks of the Pearl River, thereby helping to realize their vision of an enlarged region, while China calls its wishes to unite the cities of the region more closely.
Plans for the opening ceremony were announced a few days in advance, which apparently coincides with Xi's first trip to Guangdong Province, in the south of the country, in nearly six years. Xi's contribution to the opening ceremony, on an artificial island housing the port facilities in Zhuhai, was modest.
"I declare that the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge is officially open," he said, after the comments of Deputy Prime Minister Han Zheng and local officials, including the leaders of Hong Kong, Macao and Hong Kong. Guangdong Province. Then digital fireworks exploded on a screen behind him.
Why was the bridge built?
The Pearl River Delta, which includes Hong Kong's semi-autonomous financial center, Shenzhen's technology hub and the manufacturing areas of several other mainland cities, including Dongguan, is a powerful economic engine for China. This status was reinforced by transport projects such as a highway linking East cities in the 1990s.
The western part of the river, which includes the former Portuguese colony and Macau's gambling center, is comparatively less developed. Local leaders hope the bridge will increase the region's growth potential by facilitating access to cheaper land on the west side and ports and other infrastructure in the east.
Project critics say its targets are more political than economic, helping the Chinese central government to link the former colonies of Hong Kong and Macau more closely to the rest of the country.
How much did it cost?
The 14-mile main span cost $ 7 billion. The Hong Kong government has spent an additional $ 13.7 billion for tunnels and border facilities on an artificial island near the city's airport.
At least 10 workers were killed in the nine years of construction and environmentalists voiced concerns about potential damage to endangered Chinese white dolphins.
The construction was also tainted with corruption and 19 people were charged with false concrete tests.
The launch of the bridge comes a month after the opening of a high-speed railway station in Hong Kong, controversial because it allows the mainland police to work for the first time at the heart. from the former British colony.
What's special about this?
The structure required more than 400,000 tons of steel. It is elevated to allow ships to pass underneath. But like the bridge between Hong Kong and the city's airport, the eastern sections were built to strict height limits, and a four-mile submarine tunnel connects the Hong Kong section to the main span of the bridge. .
Since the vehicles are driven on the right side of the road in mainland China and on the left side of Hong Kong and Macao, the bridge includes two points where drivers change sides.
Who will use it?
Private cars will have limited access to the bridge, special permissions being required to cover the entire distance. The Hong Kong government has produced an animation video listing the requirements. "It's simple and practical," says the narrator without conviction.
Most travelers will cross shuttle bus lines. Large car parks have been built at each end for private cars. Government estimates for traffic by 2030 have been reduced to approximately 126,000 passengers per day, compared to approximately 172,000.
The mainland city of Shenzhen, just north of Hong Kong, is currently building its own competing bridge over the Pearl River, which is expected to open in 2023.
