Engineering marvel to smooth flow of traffic, wealth across Pearl River Delta(3)

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In addition to the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, three other transportation passages cross the Pearl River Estuary, linking the region's eastern and western sides. The Humen Bridge and Nansha Bridge both connect Guangzhou and Dongguan, and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge connects the three cities.

Situated 30 km south of the Humen Bridge and 31 km north of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link is strategically positioned to significantly alleviate traffic congestion and facilitate the movement of people and goods across the Pearl River.

The densely populated Greater Bay Area, with over 86 million people, needs a more developed transportation network, and local government is making plans to build more transportation links to better connect the region, said Li Hui, an assistant professor at the School of Media and Communication at Shenzhen University.

The transportation cluster will play a significant role in propelling the development of the region, fostering mutual growth among cities, and creating a win-win situation for everyone involved, he said.

"With the opening of the new link, it is poised to not only benefit Zhongshan, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, but also establish a more robust transportation network that connects major metropolitan areas with medium-sized and smaller cities in the region, fostering shared development," he said.

Cities on the Pearl River's western bank can accommodate Shenzhen's industrial shift, leading to mutual growth, Li said.