Underwater tube for HK-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge docked  

港珠澳大桥首节隧道沉管成功对接

6日凌晨港珠澳大桥西人工岛和沉管沉放舶上一片沸腾，经过86小时连续施工，港珠澳大桥首节隧道沉管与西人工岛暗埋接头于当天凌晨2时58分成功对接。

Zhuhai (CNS) — The first immersed tube for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) was successfully docked, with tubes under its west artificial islands, at 2:58 a.m. on Monday, after 86 hours of round-the-clock construction.　

The project involving 33 immersed tubes is the second undersea subway tunnel in the world.

The successful docking of the first tube marks a key point in the bridge's construction. Construction on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge began on Dec 15, 2009. Completion is scheduled for 2016.

Once built, the 49.968-kilometer crossing will be the world's longest immersed tunnel and longest combined cross-sea bridge-tunnel.

The bridge is expected to have a lifespan of 120 years and withstand an 8.0-magnitude earthquake. Upon completion, the travel time from Hong Kong to Macao or Zhuhai will be reduced from more than three hours to half an hour.