World's longest bridge takes 40 minutes to drive across and cost $15billion to build
World's longest bridge takes 40 minutes to drive across and cost $15billion to build
Chloe Dobinson, Ciaran McGrathSun, May 10, 2026 at 11:00 AM UTC
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The bridge connects Hong Kong and Macau more directly with cities in Guangdong province (Image: AFP/Getty Images)
Spanning 34 miles across the Pearl River Delta, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge stands as the world's longest sea crossing, linking the southern Chinese cities of Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau. The 55km infrastructure project required nine years of construction at an estimated cost of around $15 billion.
It has substantially reduced travel times between the three cities, converting what was previously an hour-long ferry journey into approximately 40 minutes by road. The bridge represents part of a larger strategy to enhance transportation networks throughout the Greater Bay Area, a region Beijing is developing into a significant economic hub.
By providing more direct connections between Hong Kong and Macau with cities across Guangdong province, the crossing aims to facilitate increased trade and mobility across the region. The structure comprises multiple components, including extensive bridges, artificial islands and connecting roadways.
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The central portion includes three navigation channel bridges - Jiuzhou, Jianghai and Qingzhou.
These were built to allow large vessels passage through one of China's busiest shipping corridors, reports the Mirror UK.
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge is the longest ever sea crossing on record (Image: CHUNYIP WONG via Getty Images)
Engineers faced demanding conditions, including frequent typhoons and a challenging marine environment, reports the Express.
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The bridge utilizes single-column piers anchored in the seabed to minimize interference with water currents and lessen environmental impact on local marine life, including the Chinese white dolphin. The crossing comprises three main bridges with cable-supported designs, each distinguished by its unique tower configuration.
These structures were conceived to give the crossing a cohesive yet varied appearance, particularly important given its visibility from multiple vantage points on land, at sea and from above.
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The Jiuzhou Bridge retained its distinctive sail-shaped towers following adjustments made during the detailed design phase.
Engineering firm Arup contributed to multiple components of the project, including early design phases, construction of artificial islands and critical road and tunnel connections on both the Hong Kong and Macau ends.
Additional infrastructure connected to the crossing includes border checkpoint facilities and linkages such as the Tuen Mun-Chek Lap Kok Link, helping integrate the bridge into the wider transportation system.
Since opening to traffic, the bridge has become an essential corridor within the region's transportation framework, reflecting both the scale of China's infrastructure ambitions and the tangible need for faster connections between its principal metropolitan areas.
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Source: “AOL Money”
