China has opened the world's longest sea-crossing bridge linking Hong Kong to the mainland, a feat of engineering carrying immense economic and political significance. Key points: The "bridge of death" cost $20 billion The "bridge of death" cost $20 billion An underwater tunnel is connected by two artificial islands An underwater tunnel is connected by two artificial islands It carries major political significance for President Xi Jinping Chinese President Xi Jinping presided over a ceremony in Zhuhai to open the 55-kilometre-long bridge, which links the city to the semi-autonomous regions of Hong Kong and Macau. Digital fireworks exploded on a screen behind him as leaders of the three coastal cities looked on. Loading The $20-billion bridge took almost a decade to build while incurring major delays and cost overruns. It was known as the "bridge of death" among some local media outlets, with officials saying at least 18 workers had died during construction, according to the BBC. Xi Jinping applauds on stage after the official opening of the bridge. ( AP: Andy Wong The bridge includes an undersea tunnel connected by two artificial islands, which allows ships to pass through the Pearl River delta — the heart of China's crucial manufacturing sector. Its opening will cut travel time across the delta from several hours to just 30 minutes, something China hopes will bind the region together as a major driver of future economic growth. Traffic will begin flowing on Wednesday, but motorists must have a permit issued under a quota system. An aerial view of an artificial island connected to the world's longest sea bridge. ( Weibo/CCTV Xi's political symbol Sorry, this video has expired The bridge has been designed to withstand earthquakes and typhoons that lash the Pearl River Delta area. ( ABC News ) The bridge forms a physical link between the mainland and Hong Kong, an Asian financial hub that was handed over from British to Chinese control in 1997 with the assurance it would maintain its own legal and economic system for 50 years. That carries major political significance for Mr Xi's administration, which has rejected calls for political liberalisation in Hong Kong, sparking fears Beijing will clamp down further on civil liberties before the end of the "one country, two systems" arrangement in 2047. A white dolphin jumps out of the sea in front of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge off Lantau island. ( Reuters: Bobby Yip The bridge's opening also comes a month after the inauguration of a new high-speed rail link from Hong Kong to mainland China that runs along a different, shorter route. That line has vastly decreased travel times but also raised concerns about Beijing's growing influence because mainland Chinese law applies within part of the line's Hong Kong terminus. An aerial shot of a terminal leading to the world's longest bridge from China to Hong Kong. ( Weibo/CCTV To Claudia Mo, a Hong Kong democratic politician, the new bridge's political significance outweighs its practical usefulness. "It's not exactly necessary, because Hong Kong is connected to mainland China in every way already, by land, by air, by sea," Ms Mo said. "But they still need it as a political symbol or icon to remind Hong Kong people … that you are connected to the motherland, with this very grand bridge. "It's almost like an umbilical cord." In Zhuhai, however, sentiments revolved around economic growth and national pride. The world's longest sea bridge lit up in Hong Kong. ( AP: Kin Cheung Airline pilot Liu Gang said he had been eagerly anticipating the opening of the bridge, calling it a symbol of the mainland's increasingly close ties with Hong Kong and Macau. "It'll bring us even closer together, make us more flexible, economically and in many other ways," Mr Liu said while strolling along a walkway and shooting photos of the structure. "We're now one family." Luo Fengzhi, who works in real estate, cited the bridge as evidence of China's growing economic and engineering prowess. "For Chinese people, this makes them feel proud," she said. "I hope that every patriotic Chinese person can come and see this great feat of engineering, and I welcome foreigners to come and see for themselves as well." Workers in China clean a pavilion with the Zhuhai-Macau-Hong Kong Bridge in the background. ( AP: Andy Wong AP/ABC<doc-sep>There was a considerable crowd queuing up for shuttle buses at the Hong Kong terminal. "The atmosphere at the terminal was buzzing - it was quite busy and people were queuing up, though many of them were pensioners. There weren't many young people," he said.<doc-sep>The world’s longest sea bridge, connecting Hong Kong and Macau to the Chinese mainland has been officially opened, in a ceremony in Zhuhai attended by Chinese president Xi Jinping and Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam. In a short address Xi declared the bridge open, as digital fireworks exploded on a screen behind him. The bridge will open to traffic on Wednesday. As well as being the longest bridge of its type, stretching 55km, the $20bn Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge is also one of the world’s most unusual roadways, with cameras to detect yawning, drivers forced to wear heart monitors and access restricted to the political elite and charity donors. Here are five things you need to know about the crossing: ‘Yawn cams’ and blood pressure checks As drivers cross the bridge their heart rate and blood pressure will be monitored. The information will be sent to the bridge’s control centre. Hong Kong media have also reported there will be cameras monitoring drivers as they cross the bridge. If a driver yawns more than three times in 20 seconds, the “yawn cam” will raise an alert. Special permits Though the bridge aims to bring the autonomous regions of Hong Kong and Macau closer to mainland China, it will be accessible only to a select few. People from Hong Kong will need special permits to drive across the bridge. There are reports that long-term permits to cross from Hong Kong to Zhuhai will be granted to people who meet strict criteria, such as paying significant taxes in China, donating large amounts of money to charities in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong, or those who are members of one of several political organisations. Others can take a private shuttle bus. There is no public transport on the bridge. Controversy Online commenters in Hong Kong have complained about the bridge’s restricted access. “Such a huge investment using the Hong Kong taxpayer’s money... yet basically it is not open to us at all,” said one comment on the South China Morning Post website. A policeman and his dog patrol at the immigration building for the China-Zhuhai-Macau-Hong Kong Bridge ahead of the opening ceremony in Zhuhai Photograph: Andy Wong/AP Pro-democracy lawmaker Eddie Chu described the bridge as a “politically driven mega-project without urgent need.” Another bridge is being built between nearby Shenzhen and Zhongshan, just north of Zhuhai, meaning that by 2030 traffic is predicted to drop significantly on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge. “Basically it is redundant,” he said. Which side? In Hong Kong and Macau, drivers travel on the left, in mainland China, drivers travel on the right, presenting a bit of a conundrum for the bridge. Since the bridge is considered mainland Chinese territory, drivers will have to travel on the right for the length of the crossing, and Hong Kong drivers will also have to “comply with the laws and regulations of the mainland” while on it, according to the city’s transport department. While creative solutions were put forward about how to handle the side swap, including a “flipper bridge” called the Pearl River Necklace proposed by a team of Dutch architects, a less exciting approach was chosen in the end, with cars stopping and changing sides at a specially built merge point before they drive onto the bridge in Hong Kong. Bridge politics The bridge is part of a campaign to connect Hong Kong and Macau to 11 Chinese cities to form a high-tech region to rival Silicon Valley, the Greater Bay Area. It is also the second major infrastructure project tying Hong Kong to mainland China to launch in a matter of weeks after the opening of a high-speed rail link last month. Critics say the multi-billion dollar bridge is an attempt to integrate Hong Kong into China as fears grow that the city’s cherished freedoms are being eroded. Both Hong Kong and Macau are part of China, but are special administrative regions, which have their own governments, legal systems, and policies. There are concerns this bridge is a sign of Beijing’s desire to bring the regions more firmly under its control.<doc-sep>President Joe Biden stops to talk to the media as he drives a Ford F-150 Lightning truck at Ford Dearborn Development Center, Tuesday, May 18, 2021, in Dearborn, Mich. Barack Obama on UFOs: We don't know exactly what they are See 'Friends' cast do trivia, return to set in reunion trailer Reporter reacts to Chicago mayor only allowing interviews to people of color Prince William slams BBC after report on methods used to secure Diana interview A general view of a section of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge in Zhuhai on March 28, 2018. - Officials say the bridge, billed as the world's longest sea bridge connecting Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China, will boost business and cut travel time, but opponents in Hong Kong see it as another attempt by Beijing to tighten its grip on the semi-autonomous city. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP) (Photo credit should read PHILIP FONG/AFP/Getty Images) (CNN) — Chinese President Xi Jinping officially opened the world’s longest sea-crossing bridge Tuesday at a ceremony in the southern city of Zhuhai. The $20 billion megaproject further connects mainland China with the semi-autonomous territories of Hong Kong and Macau, with a 55-kilometer (34-mile) road bridge that has been in the works for almost nine years. It’s a key element of China’s plan for a Greater Bay Area covering 56,500 square kilometers (21,800 square miles) of southern China, and encompassing 11 cities, including Hong Kong and Macau, that are home to a combined 68 million people. “I declare the Hong Kong – Macau – Zhuhai bridge officially open,” Xi said in a seconds-long speech before a giant display showing the bridge. The announcement was greeted with applause from the hundreds of guests in attendance, including the leaders of Hong Kong and Macau, Carrie Lam and Fernando Chui, and Guangdong Party Secretary Li Xi. The bridge will open to the public for the first time on Wednesday. Proponents of the bridge say it will significantly cut journey times between the cities, enabling commuters and tourists to easily move around the region. Greater transport links “With the bridge, the traveling time between Hong Kong and the Western Pearl River Delta region will be shortened significantly, thereby bringing the Western Pearl River Delta region within three hours’ drive from Hong Kong,” the city’s transport secretary, Frank Chan, said Friday. Despite the focus on drive time however, private car owners in Hong Kong will not be able to cross the bridge without a special permit. Most drivers will have to park at the Hong Kong port, switching to a shuttle bus or special hire cars once they are through immigration. Shuttle buses cost $8 to $10 for a single trip depending on the time of day. Andy Wong/AP Chinese President Xi Jinping applauds on stage after official opening of the China-Zhuhai-Macau-Hong Kong Bridge, October 23, 2018. Critics however point to limited demand in Hong Kong for the project, and competition from improved rail links and the Shenzhen-Zhongshan bridge, which once completed around 2024 is expected to cut traffic on the Zhuhai link by over 25% within 20 years. For critics of the Chinese government, the bridge is seen as a tool to drag Hong Kong – which boasts a semi-democratic legislature and independent judiciary – closer into Beijing’s grip. “You can’t see the existing transport connections – in a literal way. But this bridge is very visible … you can see it from the plane when you fly in to Hong Kong, and it’s breathtaking,” lawmaker Claudia Mo told CNN earlier in the year. “It links Hong Kong to China almost like an umbilical cord. You see it, and you know you’re linked up to the motherland.” Photos: Bridges that break the mold PHOTO: Courtesy JCDA A team led by Xu Weiguo at Tsinghua University's School of Architecture completed the world's longest 3D-printed concrete bridge in Shanghai. Photos: Bridges that break the mold PHOTO: Courtesy JCDA The bridge took 450 hours to produce and was unveiled in January 2019. Scroll through the gallery for some of the world's most spectacular bridges. Photos: Bridges that break the mold PHOTO: Courtesy NEXT architects Lucky Knot Bridge by NEXT Architects, in progress (Changsha, China) — The name and shape of NEXT Architects' Lucky Knot Bridge refers to the Chinese art of decorative knotting, which is associated with good luck. The name and shape of NEXT Architects' Lucky Knot Bridge refers to the Chinese art of decorative knotting, which is associated with good luck. Photos: Bridges that break the mold PHOTO: Zaha Hadid Architects Danjiang Bridge by Zaha Hadid Architects, in progress (Taipei, Taiwan) — At just over 3,000 ft, the Danjiang Bridge -- one of the last commissions awarded to the late Zaha Hadid -- will be the world's longest single-tower, asymmetric cable-stayed bridge, according to the firm. The subtle design is meant to have visual impact without obscuring the Taipei sunset. At just over 3,000 ft, the Danjiang Bridge -- one of the last commissions awarded to the late Zaha Hadid -- will be the world's longest single-tower, asymmetric cable-stayed bridge, according to the firm. The subtle design is meant to have visual impact without obscuring the Taipei sunset. Photos: Bridges that break the mold PHOTO: Courtesy ljusarkitektur Sölvesborg Bridge by Ljusarkitektur, 2013 (Sölvesborg, Sweden) — In a rare twist, the Sölvesborg Bridge -- Europe's longest pedestrian bridge at 2480 feet -- was specially enhanced by a lighting design firm rather than an architect. Ljusarkitektur mounted the structure with color-change LED lights. In a rare twist, the Sölvesborg Bridge -- Europe's longest pedestrian bridge at 2480 feet -- was specially enhanced by a lighting design firm rather than an architect. Ljusarkitektur mounted the structure with color-change LED lights. Photos: Bridges that break the mold PHOTO: Courtesy Urban Redevelopment Authority Helix Bridge by Cox Architecture, 2010 (Marina Bay, Singapore) — When it opened in 2010, Singapore's Helix Bridge was the first to incorporate the shape of a double-helix. The structure is meant to symbolize life, renewal and growth, and sits near Moshe Safdie's $5.7 billion Marina Bay Sands casino.<doc-sep>
Zhuhai: China's President Xi Jinping launched the world's longest sea bridge connecting Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China on Tuesday at a time when Beijing is tightening its grip on its semi-autonomous territories. Xi announced the bridge officially open at a ceremony also attended by Hong Kong's and Macau's city leaders at a new port terminal in the southern mainland city of Zhuhai. "I declare the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge officially open," Xi said as digital fireworks exploded on a screen behind him in an indoor ceremony, before leaving the stage immediately. He did not address the audience. Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam had earlier spoken to thank Xi for attending in person, praising the bridge's "magnificence". The 55-kilometre (34-mile) crossing, which includes a snaking road bridge and underwater tunnel, links Hong Kong's Lantau island to Zhuhai and the gambling enclave of Macau, across the waters of the Pearl River Estuary. It is the second major infrastructure project tying Hong Kong to mainland China to launch in a matter of weeks, after the opening of a high-speed rail link last month, and is part of a Beijing-driven strategy to create a sprawling "Greater Bay Area" economic hub. Critics say the new multi-billion-dollar sea-bridge is one more way to integrate Hong Kong into China as fears grow that the city's cherished freedoms are being eroded. The mega bridge will open to traffic on Wednesday. Building began in 2009 and has been dogged by delays, budget overruns, corruption prosecutions and the deaths of construction workers. The launch ceremony was hastily announced last week by mainland authorities with Hong Kong lawmakers and transport companies complaining they had been left in the dark. Supporters of the project promote it as an engineering marvel that will also boost business and cut travel time, while others see it as a politically driven and costly white elephant. The main bridge section is considered mainland territory and Hong Kong cars and drivers travelling over it "must comply with the laws and regulations of the mainland", according to the city's transport department. 'It's magnificent' There was no ceremony on the Hong Kong side Tuesday, but there was a heightened police presence in coastal areas near the bridge, with officers carrying out identity checks on journalists and members of the public. Hong Kong residents will only be granted a licence to cross into Zhuhai by car if they meet highly selective criteria, including holding certain mainland government positions or making major contributions to charities in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong. Most people will need to travel the bridge on coaches and buses. ion] Online commenters in Hong Kong complained about the bridge's restricted access ahead of the launch. "Such a huge investment using the Hong Kong taxpayer's money... yet basically it is not open to us at all," said one comment on the South China Morning Post website. But residents in Zhuhai welcomed the bridge. "I think this bridge will bring great convenience to the whole area of Zhuhai, Hong Kong and Macao, and promote the economic development of the whole area of the Pearl River Delta," resident Dang Zheiliang told AFP. Resident Can Binghua paid a visit to the bridge on his day off. "Today I'm off duty, so I took my child to see the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. Now it's almost open to traffic. It's magnificent," he told AFP. Some Hong Kong media reported that the physical condition of bus drivers would be monitored by cameras, including an alert sent if a driver yawns more than three times in 20 seconds. China already lays claim to the record for the world's longest bridge of any kind — the Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge, a viaduct which is part of a high-speed rail line. The opening of the high-speed rail link last month also sparked criticism as it saw Chinese security stationed on Hong Kong soil for the first time at the city's terminus. Critics accused the Hong Kong government of giving away territory to an increasingly assertive Beijing.