Chinese vice premier Li Keqiang(C) attends the inauguration ceremony of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao bridge, the world's longest cross-sea bridge, in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, on Dec. 15, 2009. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) Photo Gallery>>>

    ZHUHAI, Guangdong, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Construction of the world's longest cross-sea bridge linking China's southern economic hub of Guangdong Province to Hong Kong and Macao began Tuesday, a move widely expected to bring economic ties closer.

    Starting from the Lantau Island in Hong Kong, the Y-shaped HongKong-Zhuhai-Macao bridge will have a total length of almost 50 km, of which about 35 km will be built over the sea, making it the longest cross-sea bridge in the world, said Zhu Yongling, an official in charge of the project construction.

    It will be built according to the six-lane expressway standard with a vehicle speed limit of 100 km per hour.

    "It is designed with a service life of 120 years. It can withstand the impact of a strong wind with a speed of 51 meters per second, or equal to a maximum Beaufort scale 16 (184 to 201 km per hour)," Zhu said.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang waves to workers at the construction site after attending the inauguration ceremony of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao bridge, the world's longest cross-sea bridge, in Zhuhai, south China's Guangdong Province, on Dec. 15, 2009. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) Photo Gallery>>>

    "It can also resist the impact of 8-magnitude earthquake and a 300,000-tonne vessel," he said.

    The entire project was estimated to cost almost 73 billion yuan (10.7 billion U.S. dollars), which would be shared by authorities on the mainland, and in Hong Kong and Macao, he said.

    During construction, they would take into consideration the protection of the ocean environment and marine life, such as white dolphins, he said.

    "We will control the construction noise and turbidity of seawater, and prevent oil pollution," he said.

    The construction would take about six years, he said.

    On completion, it would take about half an hour to travel from Zhuhai or Macao on the west bank of the Pearl River to Hong Kong on the east bank, compared with the current three hours, he said.

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