Hong Kong-Zhuhai bridge: Chinese President Xi Jinping inaugurates the world's longest sea crossing bridge

The 55km Hong Kong-Zhuhai bridge will open to public on Wednesday.

The USD 20 billion facility connects Hong Kong to Macau and the city of Zhuhai, located in mainland China.

The completion of the bridge took nine years and was often dogged by safety measures, reported the BBC.

At least 18 workers have died while constructing it.

According to officials, the bridge can withstand earthquake and typhoons. It used up 400,000 tonnes of steel.

"About 30km of its total length crosses the sea of the Pearl River delta. To allow ships through, a 6.7km section in the middle dips into an undersea tunnel that runs between two artificial islands," the BBC reported. "The remaining sections are link roads, viaducts and land tunnels connecting Zhuhai and Hong Kong to the main bridge."

The new bridge is also expected to facilitate fast travelling. Earlier, travelling from Zhuhai to Hong Kong would take around 4 hours, which is set to be completed within 30 minutes now.

However, crossing the bridge will require special permits, done via a quota system.

Vehicles using the bridge will also have to pay a toll.

The construction has irked environmentalists.

According to reports, the nearly decade long construction has been responsible for the decrease in the number of dolphins in Hong Kong waters.

The dolphin population has come down to 47 from 148 within these 10 years.

"The project has made irreversible damage to the sea," said Samantha Lee, Assistant Director of Ocean Conservation at the WWF.

"I am worried that the number will never rise again," Lee added.

Image: twitter.com/CarrieL15838575