The construction of the world's longest cross-sea bridge began in China on Tuesday, the Xinhua news agency said.
The bridge, linking China's southern economic hub of Guangdong Province to Hong Kong and Macao, will have a total length of almost 50 km, of which about 35 km will be built over the sea.
"It is designed with a service life of 120 years. It can withstand the impact of a strong wind with a speed of 51 meters per second," said Zhu Yongling, an official in charge of the project.
"It can also resist the impact of 8-magnitude earthquake and a 300,000-ton vessel," he added.
The entire project was estimated at 73 billion yuan ($10.7 billion). The cost is to be shared between authorities on the mainland, and in Hong Kong and Macao.
The authorities pledged to consider environmental issues during the construction, which will last for six years.
The world's current longest bridge spans the Hangzhau Bay in the East China Sea, and is 36 km long.
BEIJING, December 15 (RIA Novosti)
