The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) reached a new milestone over the weekend, with multiple news outlets reporting that the structure has been traversed by more than 10 million vehicles between its opening on 24 October 2018 and 27 April 2024.
According to CCTV, the bridge’s Zhuhai port also saw its annual traffic volume increase from 860,000 in 2019 to 3.26 million in 2023, with the daily average last year reaching a total of more than 8,900 vehicles.
“The [bridge] not only brings new ways for cross-border travel, but also provides more diversified transportation options,” said a Zhuhai border crossing staff member, Zhou Wei, whose words were cited by Xinhua.
The announcement of the milestone comes only days after the US government-funded Voice of America claimed the HZMB was a “ghost bridge” with very few people using it.
Chinese media, however, have hit back on the report, claiming that it is misleading and that official data indicates usage of the bridge, which cost an estimated 127 billion yuan (US$18.8 billion), has been rebounding significantly since the pandemic.
[See more: The bridge toll will be waived for the Labour Day holiday]
Guangdong authorities meanwhile unveiled a number of new measures yesterday that will be implemented from 1 May to further optimise the flow of vehicles between Guangdong, Macao and Hong Kong.
According to reports, those who have applied for dual licence plates under the investment category will be exempted from having to undergo the tax verification requirements when they are applying under a different eligibility criteria.
Similarly, drivers in various professional categories, such as investment and high-tech enterprises, will have the validity date of their dual plates extended permanently.
As well, inspection exemption measures for small, non-commercial vehicles will be improved, while the number of dual plate vehicles registered under the name of a driver will be relaxed.
