Smooth toll collection trialed on bridge to Hong Kong

Full-power testing of a pioneer integrated collection system of toll lanes serving the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) began on Dec 4.

The testing was conducted when the 110kv transformer substation at the bridge's Zhuhai-Macao frontier port island became fully operational.

The open toll system, developed by the Transportation Engineering Department of the project, incorporates both Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) and Manual Toll Collection (MTC) to speed vehicle flow-through. 

Delta bridge 

The process relies upon an advanced license plate recognition technology compatible with toll-collection software used by the three bridge hubs. The measure is the first of its kind in the country, according to a project head.

Tests of the equipment on the YC2 toll lane on the port island to block interference from adjacent channels were carried out, as was testing of ETC software connecting a national network and a joint electronic toll lane.

The first-section experimental tests of newly designed software and key equipment interfaces were completed last August. Running conditions on single lanes including 16 car-following situations, various reverse conditions, and abnormal transactions were recorded for system adjustments. Meanwhile, the license plate recognition system for both Hong Kong and Chinese mainland cars was tested.

The transformer substation energized the bridge connecting the Zhuhai-Macao frontier port island, non-navigable span in shallow waters, and Jiuzhou and Jianghai channel overpasses through four 10kV circuits. The power supply reached the facilities on the Lingding Sea, a crucial step toward the year-end readiness for the bridge's opening to traffic.

ETC toll gate [Photos courtesy nanfangplus]