However, it’s the ingenious use of 215,278 square feet (20,000 square meters) of bamboo panels on the bridge’s artificial islands that has drawn attention on a global scale, proving that nature-inspired solutions can withstand extreme conditions as well. These panels have endured every environmental challenge since the bridge opened in 2018.
Spanning 34 miles, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) is the largest sea-crossing bridge-and-tunnel system in the world.
Aimed to last over a century, this $18.8 billion architectural masterpiece – consisting of three cable-stayed bridges, an undersea tunnel, and four artificial islands – was particularly designed to withstand China’s unforgiving sun, relentless seawater corrosion, and fierce typhoons.
With seven tropical cyclones hitting the East Asian country’s coastline each year out of 27 to 28 forming nearby, the need for storm-resistant structures is undeniable. Throughout the years infrastructure investment in China remains a key driver of economic growth, accounting for 6.7 percent of the country’s GDP.
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