‘Unique and beautiful’ design for Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge sets mega project apart in the world, engineer says
- Team behind landmark project needed to address environmental challenges such as frequent typhoons, airport height restrictions and the habitat of dolphins
- Curves on main deck of bridge meant to resemble a snake and reduce boredom of those traversing the 55km link
What is the connection between dolphins, sails and Chinese knots? A ride across the world’s longest sea crossing, linking Hong Kong to Zhuhai and Macau, might reveal the answer. But only for those paying close attention.
Three distinctive features mark the project’s navigation channel bridges, and together they set the mega project apart in the world, according to the award-winning designer behind the multibillion-dollar Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge launching on Wednesday.
Naeem Hussain, global bridge leader for the multinational engineering firm Arup, told the Post that uniqueness figured prominently when he developed the final design with other experts. They aimed to create an iconic visual identity for each of the three structures not found anywhere on the planet.
“We don’t copy!” the veteran engineer said with a chuckle. “Seriously, we were all trying to do something unique that nobody had done before.”
In a joint venture with the China Highway Planning and Design Institute (HPDI) and other firms, Arup undertook the preliminary design of the mega bridge in 2009 after the consortium won the design competition.