Shenzhen–Zhongshan Link
Shenzhen–Zhongshan Link 深中通道 | |
|---|---|
.gif) Bridge construction site, from May 2018 till June 2021 | |
| Coordinates | 22°34′01″N 113°45′18″E / 22.567°N 113.755°E |
| Carries | 8 lanes of the  G2518 Shenzhen–Cenxi Expressway |
| Crosses | |
| Locale | Pearl River Delta |
| Official name | Shenzhen–Zhongshan Link |
| Other name(s) | Shenzhong Link |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Bridge–tunnel system |
| Total length | 49.7 kilometres (30.9 mi) |
| Longest span | 1,666 metres (5,466 ft)[1] |
| No. of lanes | 4 lanes per direction |
| History | |
| Construction start | May 2017 |
| Construction end | 2024 |
| Construction cost | US$4.83 billion[2] |
| Opened | 30 June 2024 |
| Location | |
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| Shenzhen–Zhongshan Link | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 深中通道 | ||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 深中通道 | ||||||
| Hanyu Pinyin | Shēnzhōng Tōngdào | ||||||
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The Shenzhen–Zhongshan Link is a bridge–tunnel which connects two major cities on the Pearl River Delta (PRD) in China: the city of Shenzhen on the eastern side of the PRD, and the city of Zhongshan on the western side. It consists of a series of bridges and tunnels (Shenzhen–Zhongshan Tunnel, Shenzhen–Zhongshan Bridge & Zhongshan Bridge), starting from Bao'an International Airport on the Shenzhen side.
The proposed 49.7 km eight-lane link was completed in 2024 and was expected to cost around US$4.83 billion.[2] It is located about 27 km downriver from the Humen Bridge, previously the only bridge crossing of the estuary, and some 32 km north of the new Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge, which links the cities of Hong Kong, Zhuhai, and Macau at the southern end of the PRD. Construction started in May 2017 and opened on 30 June 2024.[3][4]
History
[edit]Shenzhen lobbied hard in the early 2000s to be included in the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge project through a proposed double-Y-shaped design with one of the extensions connecting Shenzhen to the structure, but the Government of China picked a single-Y-shaped design in 2004, leaving Shenzhen out of the project. The idea of a separate link to connect Shenzhen with Zhongshan was originally proposed in 2008, but was shelved for several years amid concerns it could jeopardize the success of a bridge between Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau. It was eventually included in the Guangdong government's 12th five-year plan, unveiled by Guangdong governor Huang Huahua on 9 January 2011.[5]
The project consists of a 6.7 km tunnel starting on the Shenzhen side, and 19 bridges totaling 43 km (aggregate length); the longest continuous section of bridge is about 22.5 km, from which about 15.5 km stretches above sea.[6] There are four lanes in each direction, with a maximum speed of 100 km/h. The bridge joins the Guangshen Expressway to the south of Shenzhen airport and the Jihe Expressway to the east of the airport on the eastern side of the delta with the Zhongjiang Expressway on the western side. It cut travel time from Shenzhen to Zhongshan to less than 30 minutes.
On 30 June 2024, the bridge opened to traffic. Shenzhen created inter-city bus lines between it and Zhongshan. In the first days after opening, users including drivers and passengers reported congestion on the bridge, some had to wait hours or made detours using the Humen Bridge instead.[7]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ "Shenzhong Link Lindingyang Bridge".
- ^ a b The Wall Street Journal: "A Hong Kong Tale of 2 Bridges", 2 May 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
- ^ "Chief Executive - My Blog - Laying the foundation for Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge yesterday and joining Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge together today". www.ceo.gov.hk. Retrieved 2018-05-14.
- ^ "Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link to open on Sunday, cutting Hong Kong travel time". South China Morning Post. 27 June 2024.
- ^ South China Morning Post: "Shenzhen–Zhongshan bridge back on agenda", 25 January 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
- ^ measuring on satellite images
- ^ "Long traffic jams greet Hongkongers trying out new Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link". South China Morning Post. 2024-07-01. Retrieved 2024-07-06.