Construction of the Huangmao Sea Channel Bridge project connecting southwest Zhuhai and southeast Jiangmen was approved by the Guangdong Provincial Development & Reform Commission's Infrastructure Development Division last week.

Spanning 31 km (19 miles), the dual six-lane structure is designed with a speed of 100 kmph (62 mph). It will start from Pingsha Town in Zhuhai's west to connect with Gaolan Port and Hezhou-Gaolan Port expressways (west extension line of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge).

The proposed cross-sea channel will then pass through Pingsha Ecological Park, cross the Huangmao River to a point west of Fuliang Village in Chixi Town of Jiangmen's Taishan.

Huangmao Sea Channel, bottom left in red [Photo courtesy Zhuhai Transport Bureau]

Eight bridges totaling 21,255 m (13 miles) will be built, as will two tunnels stretching 2,370 m (1.47 miles), four interchanges, one management center, one service area, and a maintenance work area.

In the end, the bridge will merge into the Guangdong Western Coastal Expressway in Zhonghe Village of Doushan Town in Taishan, and lead to the Xintai-Taierzhuang Expressway in Shandong Province.

Construction is to begin this year and be completed by 2024, according to the first public notice related to environmental impact assessment released by Guangdong Provincial Highway Construction.

Once operational, the bridge will shorten the distance between Zhuhai and Jiangmen to 31 km (miles). Motorists will be able to reach Taishan from Pingsha in fewer than 30 minutes.

Rendering of Huangmao Sea Channel [Photo provided by Guangdong Provincial Highway Construction Co to Zhuhai Daily]