The world’s longest sea-crossing bridge links Hong Kong like an umbilical cord

The World’s longest sea crossing bridge, which took nine years to build was opened by Chinese President Xi Jinping. The 34 miles (55km) bridge connects Hong Kong to Macau and the mainland Chinese city of Zhuhai.

The 15.4bn ( $20bn) project is key element of China’s plan for a Greater Ba\y Area covering 21, 800 square miles ( 56,500 km²) across southern China, connecting 11 cities including Hong Kong and Macau home to a combined 68 million people.

“With the opening of the bridge, the travelling time between Hong Kong and the Western Pearl Delta region will be shortened significantly, thereby bringing the Western Pearl River Delta region within three hours drive from Hong Kong,” according to Frank Chan the transport secretary.

Private car owners in Hong Kong can only cross the bridge with a special permit after they are through immigration. Shuttle buses costs $8 for a single trip.

The bridge could withstand a magnitude 8 earthquake, a super typhoon and also strikes by super-sized cargo vessels, as it incorporates 400, 000 tonnes of steel and also includes a  4mile ( 6.7km) submerged tunnel to avoid the busy shipping paths over the Pearl River Delta. The tunnel runs between two artificial islands, measuring 100, 000 m² ( 1m ft²) in relatively shallow waters.