Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor

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Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor
深港西部通道
Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor深港西部通道
Bridge at sunset
Official name Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor
Carries 6 lanes highway
Crosses Deep Bay, Hong Kong
Locale Yuen Long and Shekou
Design Cable-stayed bridge
Longest span 4,770 m (15,650 ft)
Total length 5,500 m (18,045 ft)
Width 6 lanes with shoulder
Opening date 1 July 2007
Toll 0

The Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor (Chinese: 深港西部通道; pinyin: Shēngǎng Xībù Tōngdào; Cantonese Yale: sam1 gong2 sai1 bou6 tung1 dou6) is a 5.5-kilometer, or 3-mile, dual three-lane carriageway spanning Hong Kong and Shekou, Shenzhen in China. It is a port of entry to Hong Kong from mainland China.

Construction on the link began in 2003. The 3.2-kilometer, or 2-mile, Hong Kong section was completed in 2005. The corridor was scheduled for completion in 2006 but owing to the delay in the construction of the Shenzhen section and legal issues about applying the Law of Hong Kong in co-location of immigration and customs facilities in mainland China, it was officially opened on 2007-07-01 by President Hu Jintao of China.

The biggest section of the link is the 4,770 m (15,650 ft) bridge spanning Deep Bay and Shekou. The single tower cable-stayed bridge allows for the southern and northern navigation channels of the Sham Chun River. There are two customs clearing areas, one managed by the Hong Kong Customs and the other by Chinese Customs. It can handle 58,600 vehicles and 60,000 cross-boundary tourists per day.

The link's biggest player is the Gammon-Skanska-MBEC Joint Venture.

[edit] Transportation

Three public bus services run on this corridor. They are operated by the New Lantao Bus Company and Citybus.

A green public light bus route, 618, also operates from Tin Shui Wai new town.

Hong Kong taxis, minibuses and cross-border buses are allowed access to the corridor; private vehicles must have the correct permit to use the corridor.

[edit] References