China will officially open the world's longest sea bridge on Tuesday

Construction of the bridge began nine years ago and cost $20 billion (over 449 billion CZK). The ceremonial opening in the city of Zhuhai in Guangdong Province is expected to be attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, along with top officials from Hong Kong and Macau. The bridge will start operating for general traffic on Wednesday.

The original opening date for the bridge was set for 2016, but construction was delayed due to environmental impact assessments, corruption investigations, and budget overruns. During its construction, seven workers lost their lives, and another 275 were injured. Most deaths were associated with falls from great heights.

The bridge is a key element of Beijing's plan to create tighter connectivity among 11 cities in the Pearl River Delta, which covers 56,000 square kilometers and is home to 68 million people.

The bridge features two six-lane roads and a 6.7-kilometer tunnel that was dug to avoid disrupting busy shipping routes in the area. The tunnel runs between two artificially created islands.

The bridge was designed to withstand earthquakes of up to 8.0 magnitude, super typhoons, and impacts from large cargo ships. Over 400,000 tons of steel were used in its construction.

Although Chinese authorities emphasize the reduction of travel time between Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland China, private vehicle owners in Hong Kong will not be allowed to use the bridge without special permission. Most drivers will have to park at the Hong Kong port and transfer to a shuttle bus, with fares ranging between eight to ten dollars (up to 220 CZK) for a one-way trip.

The bridge project has faced sharp criticism in Hong Kong, where most residents do not desire closer ties with Macau or mainland China and are concerned that the city will be flooded with Chinese tourists. In 2016, Hong Kong recorded 56.7 million tourist visits, according to CNN.

The former British colony of Hong Kong returned under Chinese administration in 1997. However, the Basic Law guarantees Hong Kong residents extensive personal freedoms, including freedom of speech, and an independent judiciary, which the residents of mainland China do not have. In recent years, however, Beijing has increasingly intervened in Hong Kong's internal affairs.

The ambitious project has also drawn considerable criticism from environmentalists. The Pearl River Delta is home to a threatened population of Chinese white dolphins. Hong Kong has responded to these concerns by creating marine reserves to protect the dolphins and other elements of the local ecosystem.