Organized by Delta Bridges Media Ltd, the seventh Delta Inter Chamber Event took place on Friday, June 15th at the Macau Tower. Entitled"Hong Kong - Zhuhai - Macao Bridge", the symposium focused on the world's longest dual three-lane carriageway in the form of a bridge-and-tunnel-structure sea-crossing, linking the three places.
A 38km bridge in the South China Sea will form a fixed crossing over the Pearl River Estuary between Zhuhai and Macau on the western side and Hong Kong on the eastern side. The 29.6km main section is in Zhuhai waters and comprises 22.8km of bridge work including three cablestayed bridges with spans ranging from 280m to 460m, viaducts spanning 75m and 110m, a 6km tunnel and two artificial islands. Arup is involved in the design of the bridges and the artificial islands. The project is scheduled for completion in 2015.
"This is the first major, combined, bridge and tunnel sea-crossing project in China, considered a vital link to prosperity in the Pan-Pearl River Delta region. Upon completion, the travel time from Hong Kong to Macau or Zhuhai will be reduced from more than three hours to half an hour, helping to boost logistics and tourism development in the region. " stated Philip Wong, an Associate Director with Arup Infrastructure Practice in East Asia Region, currently leading the Arup Macau Office and looking after the Macau and the nearby Zhuhai / Hengqin markets for the region.
U.S. Editor Christopher Cottrell who has been closely observing the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao bridge for many years had his views on establishment of the bridge by giving examples of the ongoing projects in Zhuhai, "Hengqing Chimelong Project", "Shizimen Master Plan" and "Zhuhai International Circuit". With total investment exceeding 8 billion yuan ($1.2 billion) and floor space of 700,000sqm, the first-group projects include Hengqin Headquarters Tower, which will contain a 400m milestone complex building; Lanqin International Finance Tower, which will feature headquarters economy, international-brand shopping mall and five-star hotel; Huarong Hengqin Building, which will house a superb five-star hotel, A-class office building and world-famous brand flagship cluster; Hengqin Phoenix Tree Tower to encompass a seven-star hotel and a platinum five-star property hotel; and Intercontinental Shipping Centre, which is to be built into a super high-rise featuring high-class offices, large modern shopping and hotel facilities and a shipping and support facility headquarters base in three years.
After the event, the speakers mingled with over 200 guests at "180 lounge" in Macau Tower for an evening of wine and canapés. Notable invitees from the media included Macau Daily Times, Macau Closer, TDM, Zhuhai TV, U Life magazine, Ease Magazine, Life of Guangzhou, Shenzhen Standard, News GD, Ponto Final, Zhuhai TV, Zhuhai Daily, Guangzhou TV, Dongguan TV, Zhongshan Daily, Coastal Entrepreneur Magazine, Guangzhou City TV, That’s PRD Magazine, and Delta Bridges.
For more information about the next DICE, be sure to visit the websites below in the coming weeks:
http://www.deltainterchamber.com/
http://www.deltabridges.com/
Report by Kelley Chan.
Photos by Keith Mak.
Guangzhou TV also reported 7th DICE:
http://www.gztv.com/vod/v72319.shtml