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Macau China Bridge, view taken from a TurboJET after leaving Macau. Photo taken by N509FZ. .

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Macau China Bridge

Macau China Bridge is the world’s longest sea-crossing. The bridge is 55 kilometers. Its construction reduced the traveling time between Hong Kong and Macau/Zhuhai from a one-hour ferry ride to a 40 minutes drive. It took 9 years to construct the bridge.

The bridge is a tunnel system consisting of a series of three cable-stayed bridges, an undersea tunnel, and four artificial islands. It connects three major cities on the Pearl River Delta in China; Hong Kong, Macau, and Zhuhai in Guangdong Province.

Macau China Bridge was designed to last 120 years. It cost a total of 18.8 billion U.S. dollars to finish the construction of the bridge. The bridge consists of Hong Kong Link Road (12 km), a Main Bridge (29.6 km), and a Zhuhai Link Road (13.4 km). The bridge has opened the economy of the island. Let us now look at the Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Macau China Bridge.

1. The bridge is lined with monitors that are set to drivers

The cameras on the Macau Bridge are equipped to monitor drivers for signs of fatigue. If a driver yawns more than three times in a span of 20 seconds, the cameras sound an alarm at the bridge control center. Drivers crossing the bridge are also required to wear heart monitors to facilitate this system. The bridge also has 48 high-definition surveillance cameras to help counter potential terror attacks.

2. Not everyone is allowed to cross the bridge

Cross-harbour tunnel toll plaza. Photo by N509FZ. .

Citizens from Hong Kong need special permission to transit. This can be obtained by paying an amount of tax in China, making donations to charities in the Guangdong area, or being a member of a political organization.

Every other person can cross solely in authorized private transport. No public transportation is allowed. All vehicles are required to pay a toll.

3. Halfway across the bridge, there is an intersection where cars change lanes

In Hong Kong and Macau, drivers ride on the left side of the street while on the Chinese mainland, they drive on the right. Therefore, a solution to this had to be found during the construction of the bridge.

A compromise was arrived at. It is for this reason that halfway across the bridge, there is an intersection where cars stop and change lanes.

4. Many people were injured and others lost their lives during construction

More than ten deaths were reported on the Hong Kong side of construction. Between 200 and 600 injuries were also reported. In April 2017, the Construction Site Workers General Union, the Labour Party, and the Confederation of Trade Unions were demonstrated at the Central Government Complex. 

They were demanding that the government takes action. Lawmaker Fernando Cheung expressed his concern saying that the project was a ‘bridge of blood and tears’.

5. The construction led to the reduction of dolphins by 60 percent

Dolphins seen in the Bay of Islands (North Island of New Zealand). Photo by W. Bulach.

Conservationists at the World Wide Fund for Nature in Hong Kong blamed the construction of the Macau China Bridge for the falling number of white dolphins.

The waters around the bridge saw the dropping of the number of dolphins. Dolphins found near the waters of Lantau were the worst hit with numbers dropping by 60 percent between April 2015 and March 2016.

6. It is part of the Beijing-driven strategy to improve the economy

The Macau Chia Bridge links three major cities; Hong Kong, Zhuhai, and Macau. The cities are geographically close but they are separated by water. This was considered in a bid to create an economic hub and promote economic development in the Pearl River Delta by utilizing the bridge.

Zhuhai’s Hengqin area was therefore designated as a free trade zone in 2015. The bridge will open up the area leading to a booming economy. Around 60 million inhabit the area.

7. The bridge is designed to withstand earthquakes

Side view of the Macau China Bridge. Photo by Siyuwj. .

The bridge was built using 400,000 tonnes of steel. This is enough to build 60 Eiffel Towers. This was done deliberately so that the bridge can withstand a magnitude-8earthquakes, level-16 typhoons, and 300,000-ton impacts.

These claims were put to test in September 2018 when Typhoon Mangkhut swept through Hong Kong. The typhoon destroyed roofs shattered windows and toppled trees while the bridge remained standing.

8. The eastern section of the bridge was built with strict height limits

The bridge enters Hong Kong next to the Hong Kong International Airport on Lantau Island. This section was therefore built according to strict height limits

. A four-mile undersea tunnel links the Hong Kong side to the main bridge span. The height limits are put in place to avoid disturbing frequencies used to control air traffic at the airport.

9. The original idea of the bridge was proposed by Gordon Wu

Gordon Wu founder of Hopewell Holdings proposed the initial concept of a bridge tunnel linking China, Macau, and Hong Kong in the 1980s. He got the idea from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel in 1983. He pitched the idea to Beijing and Guangdong officials.

Construction however began on December 15^th, 2009. In August 2008, Hong Kong, Guangdong, Macau, and China agreed to finance 42 percent of the coast. The remaining 58 percent was catered for by loans taken from the Bank of China.

10. The bridge has a beautiful aesthetic

The artifical island for the Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities, Hong Kong–Zhuhai(China)–Macau Bridge under construction. Photo by Wing1990hk. .

The Macau China Bridge was designed to look extremely attractive from various viewpoints. It has a unique aesthetic design. As one crosses the bridge, you can spot different shapes for each of the three navigation channel bridges. There are different shapes for towers above the bridge depending on the area they the span.

The dolphin-shaped ones are found in Jianghai, Chinese knots are found in Qianzhou while sail towers are found in Jiuzhou resembling a boat’s mast. Travelers commuting on the road enjoy such scenic views.