THE long-expected Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) is to officially open to traffic tomorrow. The HZMB Authority published a user’s guide for the public Saturday, explaining the information concerning the bridge’s tolls, traffic rules and checkpoints.

According to the guide, among the vehicle types authorized to use the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (shuttle bus, cross-border bus, cross-border taxi, truck and cross-border private car), shuttle buses will run only between the checkpoints of Hong Kong and Zhuhai/Macao, not crossing any borders.

Cross-border buses via HZMB operate similarly to current buses that run between the Chinese mainland and the two special administrative regions through existing checkpoints, such as Shenzhen Bay Checkpoint.

Cross-border private cars under quotas for existing border crossings (i.e. Shenzhen Bay and Lok Ma Chau) will be allowed to use the HZMB without additional procedures on a trial basis.

According to figures from the Transport Department in Hong Kong, the number of Hong Kong cross-border private cars issued valid Closed Road Permits (CRP) was 30,400 as of 2017.

The number of mainland cross-border cars with such permits is more than 20,000, according to the bridge operator, the HZMB Authority.

Governments in Hong Kong and the mainland have both promised flexible adjustment of quotas for cross-border private cars in accordance with the traffic volume after the bridge opens.

The HZMB has a dual 3-lane carriageway and the speed limit is 100 km per hour on the main bridge.

As the bridge is mostly located over mainland waters, vehicles will keep to the right of the road. Cars can change to the left after having passed the checkpoints in Hong Kong and Macao.

The HZMB Authority will be in charge of the bridge toll. The toll is in Renminbi.

According to the guide, private cars and taxis need to pay a toll of 150 yuan (US$21.64) per trip. Ordinary Trucks will be tolled 60 yuan, while 115 yuan will be charged for cargo trucks. Cross-border buses and shuttle buses will need to pay 200 yuan and 300 yuan, respectively. There’s only one toll plaza with 20 toll gates. All toll gates will be available for auto-toll systems in Hong Kong and Guangdong Province. Besides cash, bank cards and e-payment, such as WeChat Pay and Alipay, is also acceptable.

The Main Bridge located over mainland waters will be managed by the HZMB Authority, which was jointly founded by the governments of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macao SAR in 2010. It is responsible for the construction, operation, maintenance and management of the Main Bridge.

The authority is located in Zhuhai. Meanwhile, there are monitoring centers and departments charged with responsibilities such as road rescue, maintenance and fire services, on the western and eastern artificial islands of the bridge, for daily operation, maintenance and emergencies.

The checkpoints in Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao will be open 24 hours a day. They are built and managed by local governments, respectively.

Zhuhai and Macao will cooperate to implement a one-off customs clearance at the two checkpoints. The two cities will share immigration data, allowing travelers to finish the exit and entry process in one pass.

The HZMB is a 55-kilometer long bridge-island-tunnel complex across the Pearl River Estuary. It is the world’s longest sea crossing. The bridge consists of a 6.7-km undersea tunnel, which is the country’s first offshore immersed tunnel and the world’s longest immersed tunnel for road traffic. It is connected to the bridge by two offshore artificial islands.

(China Daily)