Sea-crossing linking Zhuhai, Jiangmen set to open today

Eunice Lam

The Huangmaohai Sea-Crossing Passage, which connects Zhuhai and Jiangmen in Guangdong province, is officially set to open today as an extension of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

This new 31-kilometer passage, featuring a 14km stretch over the sea, significantly reduces travel time between Zhuhai and Jiangmen from one hour to about 30 minutes.For drivers from Hong Kong, the journey to Jiangmen will take about one and a half hours.

Initially, drivers can use the passage free of charge, as it is set to begin operations at 3pm today. However, authorities plan to introduce tolls later, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

Construction of the passage, which cost 12.98 billion yuan (HK$13.91 billion), began in June 2020.

The Huangmaohai Bridge is a single-column cable-stayed structure featuring double cable planes and a complete floating system.It spans two channels of the Huangmaohai Sea and includes three towers and two spans, making it the third-longest three-tower cable-stayed bridge in the world.

The route begins in Pingsha Town, located in the Gaolan Port Economic Zone of Zhuhai City.CCTV reported that the passage extends eastward to connect with the Hegang Expressway and westward across the Huangmaohai waters, ending in Doushan Town, Taishan City, Jiangmen.There, it links to the S49 Xinhui-Taishan Expressway and the Western Coastal Expressway.

The bridge is designed for speeds of up to 100km per hour and has an estimated lifespan of 100 years.

The bridge deck features a split steel box girder design, consisting of two girders and transverse connecting boxes, measuring a total width of 50.4 meters. This represents the first large-scale application of this design in Guangdong Province.

Alongside the Huangmaohai Sea-Crossing Passage, several other cross-sea and cross-river corridors are planned for the Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, including the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Humen Bridge, and Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link. These developments aim to establish the Greater Bay Area as a world-class transportation hub.

Notably, the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, which opened in June, has reduced travel time between these two cities from at least two hours to just 25 minutes.

eunice.lam@singtaonewscorp.com