Engineering marvel to smooth flow of traffic, wealth across Pearl River Delta

Benefiting people

The link, which reduces average travel time between Shenzhen and Zhongshan from approximately 2 hours to just 30 minutes, commenced trial operations at 3 pm on June 30.

On its opening day, motorists flocked to try the link, resulting in traffic jams. Within the first 24 hours of operation, 125,000 vehicle trips were recorded.

The new infrastructure project quickly became a trending topic on social media platforms, with photos of drivers breaking traffic rules to capture sunset views from the bridge, which went viral.

Residents on both sides have eagerly embraced the link, anticipating the improved connectivity and economic opportunities it will bring.

Shenzhen resident Huang Mu said her friends and relatives have been talking for a long time about the new transportation passage and its potential benefits.

The 40-year-old has a cousin who lives in Zhongshan. Before the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link opened, motorists had to make a detour via the Humen Bridge to travel between Zhongshan and Shenzhen.

"Me and my cousin mean to see each other more often, but the traffic is pretty challenging, especially during the holidays," she said, referring to the notorious traffic congestion on the Humen Bridge, which opened in 1997.

"We local people always say it is better to have three spare hours to cross the (Humen) bridge during the holidays."

Huang plans to drive with her son to Zhongshan via the new link to visit her cousin during the summer vacation.

Many people working in Shenzhen, including one of her colleagues, have bought an apartment in Zhongshan because of the lower property prices, Huang said.

"As soon as the new link opened, my colleague began considering commuting between Zhongshan and Shenzhen every day, instead of staying in a rented apartment in Shenzhen during weekdays," she said.

Zhongshan resident Ye Qifan, 27, said his friends were also excited about the link opening. He said that the bus commute between the cities is convenient and affordable.

"It's great news for us. I think I will travel to Shenzhen and Hong Kong more often," he said.

Multiple access

In addition to the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, three other transportation passages cross the Pearl River Estuary, linking the region's eastern and western sides. The Humen Bridge and Nansha Bridge both connect Guangzhou and Dongguan, and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge connects the three cities.

Situated 30 km south of the Humen Bridge and 31 km north of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link is strategically positioned to significantly alleviate traffic congestion and facilitate the movement of people and goods across the Pearl River.

The densely populated Greater Bay Area, with over 86 million people, needs a more developed transportation network, and local government is making plans to build more transportation links to better connect the region, said Li Hui, an assistant professor at the School of Media and Communication at Shenzhen University.

The transportation cluster will play a significant role in propelling the development of the region, fostering mutual growth among cities, and creating a win-win situation for everyone involved, he said.

"With the opening of the new link, it is poised to not only benefit Zhongshan, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, but also establish a more robust transportation network that connects major metropolitan areas with medium-sized and smaller cities in the region, fostering shared development," he said.

Cities on the Pearl River's western bank can accommodate Shenzhen's industrial shift, leading to mutual growth, Li said.