QINGDAO has become home to both the world’s longest cross-sea bridge and the country’s longest undersea tunnel since June 30.

    The opening of the two projects, Jiaozhou Bay Bridge and Jiaozhou Bay Tunnel, has increased ease of travel throughout Qingdao and the Shandong Peninsula.

    The two projects will also alleviate the heavy pressure on roads around Jiaozhou Bay.

    Both projects are expected to enhance the cooperation between Qingdao, as well as the whole of Shandong Province, and other economic circles in China.

    The city’s international profile is also expected to be improved as a result of the two projects.

    Construction of the 7.8-kilometer and six-lane tunnel employed a variety of new, domestically developed technology, which made the tunnel a pioneering project.

    “The completion of Jiaozhou Bay Tunnel represents a big step forward in China’s ambition to become a leading country in tunnel construction. It also serves as a driving force for this ambition,” said Sun Jun, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

    As well as the starting section of the highway connecting Lanzhou City in Northwest China’s Gansu Province, the 36.48-kilometer Jiaozhou Bay Bridge has been dubbed “China’s bridge museum” for the complexity of its structure.

    The completion of the bridge has shortened the travel distance between the city and Huangdao by 30 kilometers.

    Meng Fanchao, deputy head of the Chinese academy of transportation planning and design, said Jiaozhou Bay Bridge was one of the most advanced in the world. (Li Hao, Yu Feng)