Ready to witness an engineering marvel? The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge stands before us. This colossal structure is more than just a crossing. It embodies human ingenuity and determination.
The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge connects two major cities in the Pearl River Delta. These cities are Shenzhen and Zhongshan. Shenzhen is on the eastern side and Zhongshan is on the western side. The bridge is a series of bridges and tunnels. It starts from Bao’an International Airport in Shenzhen.
This eight-lane link opened on June 30, 2024. The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge cost around US$4.83 billion. It is located 27 km from the Humen Bridge. The Humen Bridge was previously the only crossing of the estuary. It is also 32 km north of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.
Shenzhen wanted to be included in the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge project. They proposed a double-Y-shaped design. However, the Government of China chose a single-Y-shaped design in 2004. Shenzhen was left out of the project. The idea for a separate link to Zhongshan came in 2008.
The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge project includes a 6.7 km tunnel. It also has 19 bridges totaling 43 km. The longest continuous bridge section is about 22.5 km. About 15.5 km of this stretches above the sea. There are four lanes in each direction. The maximum speed is 100 km/h. The bridge connects several expressways. It cuts travel time from Shenzhen to Zhongshan to less than 30 minutes.
In its first month, over 3 million vehicles crossed the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge.
The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge boasts many world records. Its main span is 1,666 meters. This is the world’s longest span for a fully offshore steel box girder suspension bridge. The bridge deck is 91 meters high. This is the world’s highest bridge deck and navigation clearance for a sea bridge. One anchor has a concrete volume of approximately 344,000 cubic meters. That’s the world’s largest offshore suspension bridge anchor. The bridge can withstand wind speeds of 83.7 m/s. This is the world’s highest wind resistance test speed for a suspension bridge. The steel bridge deck hot-mix epoxy asphalt paving covers 378,800 square meters. This is the world’s largest area.
The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Tunnel is also impressive. It is 5,035 meters long. This makes it the world’s longest two-way eight-lane immersed tube tunnel. The tunnel has a standard tube section length of 165 meters. Its width is 46 meters and its height is 10.6 meters. This is the world’s widest underwater steel shell-concrete immersed tube tunnel. Each tube section has a concrete volume reaching 29,000 cubic meters. The total is 910,000 cubic meters. This is the world’s largest single-volume cast for a steel-shell immersed tube. The airport interchange is the world’s first underwater expressway interchange. The final joint of the immersed tube tunnel uses a three-meter repeatedly foldable M-shaped water stop. This is the world’s widest.
Hempel provided coatings for the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge. These coatings offer long-lasting aesthetics and superior corrosion protection. The project set special technical standards. These ensured safety, high quality, durability, and sustainability.
Shen Weidong is a bridge constructor. He participated in the construction of five national-level key bridges. The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge was his final major project. He captured many moments of its construction.
The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge is a world-class landmark. It serves the Greater Bay Area. It is crucial for economic development and people’s livelihoods. This bridge represents a significant achievement in bridge engineering. It has overcome harsh conditions. These include high temperatures, humidity, salt exposure, and strong typhoons.
As you stand here, consider the immense effort. Think about the innovation and collaboration that made this bridge possible. The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge is not just a structure. It is a symbol of progress and connection.