Businesses positive about Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge

As the highly anticipated Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge opened Sunday for trial operations, businesses in Macau are optimistic about potential benefits of the new cross-sea passage.

The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge is seen as a crucial link in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, which generated 14 trillion yuan in economic output in 2023, equivalent to 11% of China’s GDP.

The region aims to leverage its strengths and become a center for technology and innovation, with infrastructural connectivity being a key focus.

“The opening of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge will reduce travel times, and boost exchanges and developments between Macau and Shenzhen,” said Wong Ian Man, the Guangdong and Macau Federation of Industry and Commerce President.

Shenzhen, considered China’s Silicon Valley, is home to tech and manufacturing giants such as Tencent, DJI and BYD, with many of their manufacturing plants located in the Bao’an district, the starting point of the bridge.

As Macau diversifies its economy beyond gaming, the improved connectivity and logistics efficiency brought by the bridge are expected to create new opportunities for businesses in the city.

The new transport route boasts eight lanes designed for speeds of up to 100 km per hour.

The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link is another large-scale transportation project in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, following the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, which is situated approximately 31 km south of the new link.

“Its opening will reshape the road network layout of the Pearl River Estuary, significantly impacting the economic and social development of the GBA,” said Lin Feiming, head of the Guangdong provincial department of transport.

As of Wednesday 3 p.m., the mega cross-sea passage in south China, had handled 305,000 vehicles, 72 hours after its official opening, data from Guangdong Transportation Group showed.

“The link has already accounted for about 25% of the daily traffic passing through the Pearl River, which promotes market integration in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA),” said Lin Feiming, head of the Guangdong provincial department of transport.

The 24-kilometer link, comprising bridges, islands, tunnels and underwater interchanges, is expected to significantly reduce travel times between the two cities from two hours to 30 minutes.

The bridge will link with major expressways on both sides, including a connection to the Guangzhou-Macau Expressway in the west, and will charge a toll fee of RMB66 per standard vehicle for the entire route. Nadia Shaw