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Engineering Marvel

Tsing Ma Bridge is a longest suspension bridge in Hong Kong. It is the world's 11th-longest span suspension bridge, and was the second longest at time of completion.

CLIENT
Yee Associates
ARCHITECTS
Mott MacDonald
YEAR
2017
PROGRAM
Redesign Bridge
STATUS
Completed

Tsing Ma Bridge, Hong Kong

Tsing Ma Bridge is a bridge in Hong Kong. It is the world’s 11 longest span suspension bridge, and was the second longest at time of completion. The bridge was named after two of the islands at its ends, namely Tsing Yi and Ma Wan. The bridge looks beautiful and sturdy. It is the 7th longest suspension bridge in the world. Allows quick access between the nearby Hong Kong urban area and the airport on Lantau Island.

It was an architectural achievement, and a part of the Hong Kong airport construction project that was considered one of the world’s ten greatest construction projects that were completed during the 20th century. It is 41 meters (135 feet) wide and about 2.2 kilometres in total length. The main span is 1,377 meters (4,518 feet) long. It has two decks. The top deck has a six lane highway, and the bottom deck can handle two trains at the same time. The bridge has to be able to withstand a heavy load and severe typhoons. The towers are 206 meters (676 feet) tall. The span is the largest of all bridges in the world carrying rail traffic. It looks like a heavier version of the Golden Gate Bridge. In comparison, the middle span of the Golden Gate Bridge is about 1,280 meters long (4,200 feet).

STRUCTURE

Massively imposing by day and a twinkling span of lights by night, the Tsing Ma Bridge is an engineering marvel that links Lantau Island to the rest of Hong Kong. The 2.16 km bridge was opened to traffic in 1997 as part of key infrastructure serving the new airport on Lantau Island, and has since become a local sightseeing favourite.

As the longest suspension bridge with both rail and road traffic in the world, the Tsing Ma Bridge got its name from the areas at both of its ends: Tsing Yi and Ma Wan. In the case of a particularly severe typhoon hitting Hong Kong and shutting down the bridge’s six lanes, the two railway lines and two road lanes enclosed below it can still operate and transfer passengers and their luggage to and from the airport. Great to drive over the worlds longest road/rail bridge to enter Lantau, great viewing platform for perfect photo opportunity. Good places to see the bridge and learn more about it is at the visitor center on small Tsing Yi Island.

FREQUENCY

Visitors should head to the Lantau Link Viewing Platform and Visitors Centre located at the northwest corner of Tsing Yi Island for the best views. Facilities available include an elevated platform, and outdoor exhibits of components of Tsing Ma Bridge and Ting Kau Bridge. Videos, pictures, photos and models detailing the construction of Lantau Link and Ting Kau Bridge are displayed in the Visitors Centre.

In order to give access to Lantau Island where they were building Hong Kong’s airport, the Hong Kong government built the Tsing Ma Bridge to connect Tsing Yi with Ma Wan across the channel. The bridge is the world’s seventh longest suspension bridge, and it is the longest suspension bridge that is able to handle trains. It was an architectural achievement, and a part of the Hong Kong airport construction project that was considered one of the world’s ten greatest construction projects that were completed during the 20th century.