Shenzhen-Zhongshan megaproject ready to open to traffic

The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link in south China's Guangdong Province passed construction acceptance on Sunday and is expected to open later this month. The link will cut Shenzhen-Zhongshan travel to only half an hour, according to Guangdong Transportation Group.

The landmark Shenzhen-Zhongshan transport link consists of one underwater tunnel, two bridges and two artificial islands, making it one of the most challenging cross-sea cluster projects in the world.

As a core transportation project in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the new link spans about 24 kilometers and has been labeled the "transportation backbone" of the area, shouldering the vital task of seamlessly connecting the urban centers on either side of the Pearl River Estuary.

Strategically positioned across the Pearl River Estuary, the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link serves as a key component of the national expressway network G2518. Located approximately 30 kilometers north of the Humen Bridge and 31 kilometers south of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, it connects these vital transportation arteries.

The link, along with existing structures like the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, will form a network of cross-sea and cross-river passages in the Greater Bay Area, boosting connectivity of the city cluster, said Deng Xiaohua, head of Guangdong Provincial Communication Group.

A two-day project acceptance meeting was held by Guangdong Transportation Group from Saturday to Sunday in Shenzhen City, marked a significant milestone for the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link.

Over 150 representatives from key stakeholders, including the Highway Bureau of China's Ministry of Transport, Guangdong Provincial Department of Transportation and the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link Management Center, convened to conduct a thorough quality assessment.

The comprehensive review process involved meticulous inspections of critical construction sites and in-depth discussions lasting approximately four hours. Following this evaluation, the representatives officially approved the completion and acceptance of the entire project.