In a media briefing held by the Guangdong Provincial Communication Group at the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link Management Center on June 27th, it was announced that the much-anticipated Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link is scheduled to open for trial operations at 3 PM on June 30th. The link will charge a toll fee of 66 yuan per standard vehicle for the entire route.
A milestone of innovation and technological advancement
The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, an amalgamation of bridges, islands, tunnels, and underwater interchanges, stands as one of the most challenging cross-sea engineering projects in the world today, achieving multiple innovations and breakthroughs.
It is understood that the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link has adopted a variety of high-tech equipment to ensure the safety of the tunnel, including image-based flame detectors that have been installed to detect fires at the earliest moment, report to the platform, and simultaneously activate audio and visual alarms. Full-line fixed video event detection has been implemented to detect vehicles with potential overheating issues before they enter the tunnel, and to track them in real-time in the tunnel, ensuring a rapid response to any incidents. Furthermore, meteorological sensors and radars, in conjunction with data from the Guangdong Meteorological Service, provide advanced weather monitoring and disaster prediction to safeguard the corridor against adverse weather conditions.
Commuting time from Shenzhen to Zhongshan reduced to 30 minutes
The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, a new cross-sea passage linking the eastern and western banks of the Pearl River estuary, will significantly reduce travel times. The link is connected to major expressways such as the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Expressway, the Jihe Expressway, and the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Coastal Expressway in the east, and the Zhongshan-Kaiping Expressway, the Guangzhou-Macao Expressway, and the Zhongshan Eastern Outer Ring Expressway in the west. It also interfaces with the Nansha-Zhongshan Expressway (currently under construction) and the Nansha Port Expressway. Once the link is in operation, the two-hour commute from Shenzhen to Zhongshan will be reduced to 30 minutes.
It is worth noting that,in a related development, the Nansha District is constructing the Nansha-Zhongshan Expressway's Wanqingsha Branch, aiming for completion within the year. Upon its opening, vehicles traveling east and west through the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link can reach Zhongshan's urban areas and Jiangmen via the Wanqingsha Branch and the Nansha-Zhongshan Expressway. Furthermore, access to Guangzhou's Nansha, Panyu, and central districts will be facilitated through the Nansha Port Expressway, with the travel time from Nansha to Shenzhen expected to be reduced to approximately 20 minutes.
Enhanced cross-border shuttle services for Zhongshan-Hong Kong route
In response to the opening of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, the "Tans-Island Chinalink Hong Kong service," the largest cross-border road transport brand in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, has announced that the travel time for cross-border buses between Zhongshan and Hong Kong will be reduced from approximately two hours and 30 minutes to about one hour and 45 minutes. The company will reroute its 11 cross-border bus routes to utilize the new link, with a daily service of 120 round-trip buses between Hong Kong and the mainland of China.
The company's spokesperson has confirmed that the 11 routes will include stops in five locations within Zhongshan: the central urban area, the port area, Xiaolan, Guzhen, and Dongsheng. On the inaugural day of the link, June 30th, the frequency of the Zhongshan-Hong Kong shuttle services will be increased, with a daily schedule of 26 round-trips.
