Towers of the world's longest cross-sea bridge, which connects Zhuhai in Guangdong Province with Hong Kong and Macao, are seen in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, Sept. 27, 2016. A ceremony was held Tuesday in Zhuhai to celebrate completion of the 55-km cross-sea route and beginning of the assembly of the bridge floor and related work. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)
GUANGZHOU, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Major construction work was completed Tuesday on the world's longest cross-sea bridge, which connects Zhuhai in Guangdong Province with Hong Kong and Macao.
A ceremony was held in Zhuhai to celebrate completion of the 55-km cross-sea route and beginning of the assembly of the bridge floor and related work.
"It means construction has entered its final stage," said Zhu Yongling, head of the administration bureau of the bridge.
More than 400,000 tonnes of steel have been consumed in a 6.7-km undersea tunnel and a 22.9-km bridge, enough to build 60 Eiffel Towers.
Construction began in December of 2009 at Zhuhai. The Y-shaped bridge starts from Lantau Island in Hong Kong with branches to Zhuhai and Macao.
The bridge will cut travel time from Hong Kong to both Zhuhai and Macao from the current three hours on the road or one hour at sea to a mere half hour drive, Zhu said.