The incredible £5.4bn bridge with underwater tunnels and man-made islands | World | News

China has recently introduced an underwater structure that serves as a bridge which will include man-made islands too.

This massive bridge-tunnel is set to connect two major cities on a staggering 30.8 miles (49.7 km) eight-lane link.

It can be found in southern China in the greater bay area of Guangdong, which is home to roughly 86 million people.

Costing £3.8 billion ($4.83 billion), it will connect the city of Shenzhen on the eastern side of the Pearl River Delta (PRD), and the city of Zhongshan on the western side.

The Shenzhen–Zhongshan Link is set to officially be opened on June 30, 2024 and will revolutionise travel not only for the region but for all of China.

The bridge already holds 10 world records and is one of the most complicated cross-see cluster projects in the world.

Among these records include holding the title for the world’s largest span for a fully offshore steel box girder suspension bridge at a whopping 1,666 metres.

The bridge also boasts of having the world’s highest bridge deck sitting at an impressive 91 metres above the sea.

The bridge is a massive project that crosses seas and features not only a bridge but, also two underwater tunnels and man-made islands.

The bridge will significantly reduce travel times in China between the city of Zhongshan and Shenzhen.

Construction of this colossal project began in 2017 but faced a variety of challenges including frequent cyclones, severe siltation and high salinity.

Yet the underwater tunnel remained the most daunting aspect of this project which presented unique engineering challenges but managed to be completed in November 2023.

According to Youtube channel DeCode, the Shenzhen–Zhongshan Link will reduce travel from a lengthy two hours to only 30 minutes.

The channel added: “The bridge will enhance regional connectivity and economic integration.

“The bridge is also tested to withstand the strongest winds among suspension bridges, facing speeds up to 82.7 miles per second.”

The undersea tunnel is equally impressive and spans 4.2 miles (6.8 km) and is the world’s largest two-way eight-lane tube tunnel.

The bridge’s tunnel is also the widest underwater steel shell concrete tube with sections reaching an impressive 55.6 metres wide and 10.6 metres tall.