The multi-billion dollar Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge is set to open to traffic in May or June, Chinese state media reported on Monday.
China Daily cited anonymous sources as saying that the HK$120 billion megabridge’s exact opening date will depend on the progress of constructing checkpoint facilities and negotiating policies.
The bridge project – construction of which commenced in 2009 – has been plagued by over-spending, delays, deadly accidents involving workers, instances of hacking, and falsified test results.
Of the three jurisdictions involved in the project, Macau was the fastest in constructing checkpoint facilities. Macau’s facility buildings were all electrified by December, reported the news outlet.
Policies to be negotiated in due course relate to emergency rescue operations and the movement of staff and vehicles across jurisdictions.
Construction of the 55-kilometre-long bridge itself was completed as per schedule on December 31, state news agency Xinhua earlier reported.
Officials have said that the bridge will allow for Hong Kong, Macau and neighbouring Guangdong province to all be within one hour’s commute of each other.
