Main structure of world's longest cross-sea bridge finished

The main structure of world's longest cross-sea bridge linking Hong Kong, Zhuhai, and Macao was finished on Friday, bridge builders said.

It has taken seven years to build the bridge, which will be open to traffic at the end of the year, said Zhu Yongling, director of the management bureau of the bridge.

The main structure measures 29.6 kilometers, consisting of a 22.9-km bridge section and 6.7-km underground tunnel. The bridge's total length is 55 kilometers.

"The bridge has passed all engineering risks, and we will prepare it for public use in a few months," said Zhu.

Lin Ming, chief engineer of China Communications Construction Company Ltd., said they tackled great engineering challenges in building the bridge.

The Y-shaped bridge will cut travel time between Hong Kong and Zhuhai from three hours to just 30 minutes, further integrating cities in the Pearl River Delta, said Wei Dongqing, the management bureau's deputy Communist Party secretary.

It will create new space for the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, he said.