World’s longest sea crossing is finally finished, but Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge has come at a high cost

Bridge will soon open to passengers, but delays, cost overruns and accidents mean it has come at a price

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The mega link has been described as a “blood and sweat project” by many people in the building sector. Photo: Edward Wong

Published: 12:00pm, 19 Oct 2018Updated: 1:32pm, 12 Nov 2020

The world’s longest sea crossing linking Hong Kong, Zhuhai, and Macau will open to passengers soon, but its construction was blighted by accidents, corruption, delays and budget overruns.

Nearly a decade after construction began, the bridge’s opening ceremony will take place on October 23, marking a milestone in Beijing’s broader push to integrate the “Greater Bay Area” – an evolving dynamic and business hub comprising Hong Kong, Macau and nine Guangdong province cities.

The bridge will put the three cities within an hour’s commute of each other, and is expected to boost economic development and tourism in Hong Kong, which has invested HK$120 billion in the project.

But, critics have questioned whether the bridge will become another white elephant, as the government conceded earlier this year it had lowered its estimates for traffic due to keen competition expected from another mainland bridge, and China’s national railway.

1. How convenient is the bridge?

The 55km (34 miles) link will drastically cut travel time from Hong Kong to Zhuhai, easing the flow of cargo between the city and Western Pearl River Delta, Guangdong and Guangxi provinces.