The Honghe Bridge across over the Hongwan and Modaomen waterways may open by the end of this month once electromechanical installations and traffic sign painting are completed.

Costing 4 billion yuan ($608 million), the dual six-lane 9.65-km (6-mile) bridge connects the Hongwan Interchange in Nanping Town with the South Hezhou Reclamation Area in Jinwan District. It is composed of two cable-stayed structures, which is rare in such an ultra-long span. Pier 4, the tallest of four main towers, is 168.5 m (553 ft) high, equivalent to a 60-story building.

Permitting a maximum speed of 100 kmph (62 mph), the Honghe Bridge will cut travel time between Xiangzhou and Jinwan districts to 12 minutes.

Honghe Bridge [Photo by Ye Qiuming / WeChat account: zhuhaifabu]

Motorists from Zhuhai Avenue or the Guangzhou-Macao Expressway will access the Honghe Bridge via the Hongwan Bridge, while those using the Jialin Mt Tunnel, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge link line, or Second Hengqin Bridge can reach it via the Hongwan Interchange.

Part of what is called the local Six Horizontal & Ten Vertical road network, the bridge leads to the southern extension line of the Jiangmen-Zhuhai Expressway, Hezhou Denglong section of Zhuhai Avenue, and Jinwan Golden Gulf Golf Club via the Hezhou South Interchange.

In addition, it will merge into the Huangmao Sea Channel Bridge in the west, while connecting with Hengqin New Area in the south to boost synergetic Zhuhai-Macao development.

For the moment, the Zhuhai Bridge is the sole motor crossing between Zhuhai's east and west wings. The bridge, however, limits speed to 80 kmph (50 mph) and has numerous traffic lights and an increasing number of automobiles.