Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge passes first real test as it opens to Pearl River Delta traffic

Excited passengers on cross-border coaches take selfies at the immigration clearance building

Hong Kong’s transport secretary says he is not expecting large volume of traffic on first day of service

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The first cars and buses crossing the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge enter the tunnel on the eastern artificial island. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Published: 9:00am, 24 Oct 2018Updated: 2:23pm, 26 Oct 2018

The newly opened mega bridge linking Hong Kong with Zhuhai and Macau passed it first real test on Wednesday as hundreds of vehicles began plying the 55km crossing which puts the three cities within an hour’s drive of one another.

Thousands of travellers were eager to try out the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, which now forms the world’s longest sea crossing, while the freight transport industry was expecting a business boost but taking a wait-and-see position.

A day after President Xi Jinping opened the bridge, hailing it as a showpiece of China’s power, ambition and innovation, Hong Kong Secretary for Transport and Housing Frank Chan Fan tried to manage expectations, saying he was not expecting a large volume of traffic on the first day of public service.

Passengers prepare to cross the bridge on the first day of its opening. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

From 9am until 10 pm on Wednesday, the bridge authority recorded a total of 2,305 vehicular trips, of which 1,340 were bound for Zhuhai or Macau while 965 were for Hong Kong. Among the vehicles, 1,154 were private cars, 1,120 were shuttle buses or cross-border coaches and 31 were goods vehicles.

The Immigration Department said 9,994 people had entered the city through the port facility on the Hong Kong side, while 12,950 had left, as of 4pm.