WORK on the east artificial island of Shenzhong (Shenzhen-Zhongshan) Link, China’s first underwater highway interchange, is about to start, according to the Shenzhen Special Zone Daily.

The corridor project is a crossing-river expressway that connects Shenzhen and Zhongshan cities. The link is 24 kilometers in length with an approximately 6.9-kilometer underwater tunnel. The whole project is expected to be finished by 2024.

The east artificial island will be located near the Shenzhen end, close to the Fuyong port in Bao’an District. The artificial island will serve as a junction where underwater tunnel links with the ground roads and bridges to the Shenzhen airport and other city highways.

When the artificial island is finished, traffic is expected to be much more smooth and efficient for those who commute among Shenzhen, Zhongshan, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

The 1,136-meter-long artificial island will cover an area that equals to 47 international-standard football courts.

Compared with the west artificial island, the construction work of the east island is more challenging due to the large scale of the project, multiple intersections and consideration of environmental protection.

Meanwhile, the project is required not to disturb the operation of the adjacent airport and the Fuyong port, as well as highways, which has increased the difficulty of the project.

According to Chen Weile, director of the Shenzhong Link’s management center, construction work of the west artificial island has started at the end of 2016 and is progressing smoothly.

Other projects relating to the Shenzhong Link are also in progress as scheduled. (Zhang Qian)