Big Hengqin Mt Tunnel from south of the Xiangjiang Road intersection to a proposed North Qinming Road will be broken through by year's end and open to traffic on Nov 30, 2020, swears the contractor.

Zhuhai Da Heng Qin Investment Co announced the goal at an Aug 20 oath-taking to advance major projects in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland on Dec 20, 1999, which was then 100 days away.

Big Hengqin Mt Tunnel [Photo by Zeng Yao / Zhuhai Daily]

The dual six-lane tunnel will cost 4.35 billion yuan ($616 million). It will pass under Hengqin Avenue before cutting through Big Hengqin Mt. A 150-m (164-yd) bridge will then be built above Chimelong Tunnel and switch to a section under the mountain, South Ring (Huandao) Road, and Changlan Bay. It will see daylight at the south reclamation area.

Slated first is the southern extension of Central Avenue, a north-south artery that forms part of Hengqin's skeleton road network. It spans 5.6 km (3.5 miles) to Changlan Bay as a key passage between Hengqin Island and the south reclamation area.