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Artificial Island Port Project of Hong Kong - Zhuhai - Macao Bridge

The Hong Kong - Zhuhai - Macao Bridge is an ultra-large infrastructure project built under joint efforts of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao under the “One Nation, Two Systems” policy for the first time. This super engineering crossing Lingdingyang Bay has been planned for nearly 20 years.

The Hong Kong - Zhuhai - Macao Bridge is an ultra-large infrastructure project built under joint efforts of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao under the “One Nation, Two Systems” policy for the first time. This super engineering crossing Lingdingyang Bay has been planned for nearly 20 years.

With Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in its east end, and Zhuhai City and Macao Special Administrative Region in its west end, Hong Kong - Zhuhai - Macao Bridge comprises three major projects including subsea bridge and tunnel project, ports in three cities and connecting lines in three cities. The full length is 49.968km, and it will be the longest cross-sea bridge on completion. The Zhuhai po’rts on artificial island of Hong Kong - Zhuhai - Macao Bridge are the primary supporting projects and important part of the bridge, and also preconditions and guarantee for the bridge to run through Hong Kong, Macao and Zhuhai.

On Nov. 28, 2013, the land reclamation project for Zhuhai/ Macao port artificial island was completed. Thereby, the parallel two ports on artificial island, which are designed under EPC by East China Architecture Design Institute (ECADI), are built in the beautiful Gongbei Bay of Zhuhai City came into being.

We call her “Two Ports on One Island, Three Customs in One Place”.

Two Ports on One Island

The artificial island is divided to the south and north parts. The north part is Zhuhai Highway Port, with land area of 1.071 million m2 and total construction area of about 520,000m2. The south part is Macao Highway Port with land area of 716,100m2 and total construction area of 620,000m2, and governed by Macao. It is the first time in China to build two ports under governments of two cities on one artificially-filled island.

Three Customs in One Place

Neither Zhuhai Port nor Macao Port is a traditional customs port for two places, but a more complex port for three places of Zhuhai, Hong Kong and Macao. The Zhuhai Port meets future exit/entry demands of 150,000 person-time customs clearance passengers, 18,000 buses and 17,000 trucks between Zhuhai and Hong Kong in 2035; in the meantime, meets exit/entry demands of 100,000 person-time customs clearance passengers and 3,000 buses between Zhuhai and Macao. The Macao Port meets equivalent customs clearance volume with Zhuhai, and also demands of 80,000 person-time customs clearance passengers, 10,000 buses and 1,000 trucks with Hong Kong. Such mode of “three customs in one place” is also the first in China and new to the world.

1. Stereoscopic layout, hub-type distribution

Due to limited land on the artificial island, the method of comprehensive transportation hub is adopted to meet requirements of complex functional demands and people-oriented design ideas. The overall layout of “one-core, one-line, dual-separation, general circulation” is adopted.

Meanwhile, different from the “pancake-like” layout of traditional port, both Zhuhai Port and Macao Port sought for more space by stereoscopic layout, which realizes “exit/entry on different layers, stereoscopic exchange in transportation center, and layered distribution of port roads”. Land resources are dug up sufficiently, tourists’ walking distance is controlled effectively, and exit/entry steam is effectively organized. Owing to efficient and intensive land resources, the artificial island can reserve precious land for comprehensive development, and lay foundation for developing port characteristics industry in later stage.

2. Separate layer by layer, public transport priority

Firstly, the planning mainly solves the traffic linkage problems between island and mainland: to realize distribution of customers/goods and repeated distribution of passenger cars, and avoid traffic disorder; secondly, the traffic strategy of “one-way general circulation” is adopted, and main lanes in core area of the port are integrated to one-way so as to avoid crossing to the maximum degree; thirdly, the pedestrian and vehicles separation system is designed elaborately; lastly, the stereoscopic traffic system with departure and arrival on different layers divide passengers exit/entry orderly and send maximum departing passengers to the inspection building directly so as to shorten walking distance of passengers to the maximum degree.

Besides, the entire traffic system is designed based on principles of “public transport priority, rail traffic priority, reserving for rails”, and can meet increasing traffic demands of passengers.

3. Experience-focused, smart customs clearance

Passenger experience is improved by efficient and convenient flow design, simple and distinct guidance and comfortable space. Creative inspection modes, including “one-stop joint inspection clearance mode for trucks and passenger cars” and “back-to-back inspection and customs clearance mode for passengers from Zhuhai and Macao”, are applied to the artificial island port so that it becomes the most advanced customs clearance port in China. At the same time, the intelligent traffic management system and intelligent port comprehensive management and emergency platform make the artificial island the smartest customs clearance port in China.

4. Green architecture, ecological port

Making full use of the climate conditions in Zhuhai, the architectural design applies green and energy-saving technologies such as natural ventilation, natural lighting, building shading and greening microenvironment. The Zhuhai Port on the artificial island won three-star green building label.

5. Temperature of cities, comprehensive development

The artificial island port is designed to a place with urban temperature through smooth transfer flow and commercial space, distinctly different passenger line and vehicle flow, unique space feeling and appearance effect, and enjoyable outdoor landscape and travel experience.

In the beginning of planning for Zhuhai Port design, both the construction and design firms subtly realized that the key position and future considerable passenger flows of Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macao artificial island would provide incomparable opportunity for comprehensive development of the port. Relying on experiences in comprehensive development of large-scale comprehensive transportation hub, Arcplus systematically planned port development layers, layout and type of business and set four layers of business, which are closely integrated with customs clearance process of the port. Thus, the port becomes a truly comprehensive pivot port.

The first layer is the duty free center in the passenger inspection channel. The exit/entry duty free serving passengers is set on the outbound side of exit/entry in Zhuhai Port inspection building, in combination with customs clearance process and sightseeing zone of the bridge. The second layer is for vigorous business in combination with traffic center. Tourist distribution center, dinning and shopping center is set in the traffic transfer center on Zhuhai side, and boutique shopping center serving high-end passengers on access to the planned rail transit station and comprehensive development zone. The third layer is a supporting service zone linking with the core area, which is set on the west side of core area and links with the pedestrian mall, including hotels, offices and meeting affairs center. The fourth layer is a port-based comprehensive development zone, which is on the north side of Zhuhai Port, and linked with the port by traffic corridor. The main types of business are high-end office, convention and exhibition, and hotels.

6. Perfect combination, satisfactory cooperation

For the image of country gateway, the owner requires Zhuhai Port of Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macao Bridge both innovative and elegant. The layout of “three points and one line” implies “three customs in one place, satisfactory cooperation”. The core architectural complex on the artificial island is created to an elegant whole which is mellow without sharp corners and sense of direction, indicating the Chinese philosophy of life.

7. Disaster precautions considered as a whole

Since the port is located on the offshore artificial island, and Zhuhai is a place with frequent typhoons, “flood, water-logging and typhoon precautions” is a primary issue. Specialties such as construction, structure and water supply and drainage closely collaborated, and adopted a series of technologies:

  • To confirm standard of recurrence interval strictly;
  • To establish an overall flood draining and water-logging prevention system on artificial island around key architectural complex in the core zone;
  • To recheck elevation of ground floor in core buildings, and elevate it on reasonable cost;
  • To enhance drainage and interception capacity in key areas such as entrance/exit of basement, and open underground courtyard; 
  • To tighten standard to prevent the long-span metal roof from blowing down through structure, construction and material selection; 

The project of Hong Kong - Zhuhai - Macao Bridge is another world-class foundation work in China after the Three Gorges Project, Qinghai-Tibet Railway and Beijing-Shanghai Express Railway. As one important part of the project, the port on artificial island shoulders the historical responsibility of enhancing among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, speeding up economic fusion of the Pearl River Delta, and boosting economy of the region.