Tsing Ma Bridge

The Tsing Ma Bridge opened in 1997 as part of the link built to reach the new airport, carrying six lanes of road on its upper deck and, on an enclosed lower deck, two railway tracks and sheltered carriageways used when typhoons close the top. Its main span of 1,377 metres made it, when completed, the longest span of any bridge carrying both road and rail traffic. It is crossed by every train and bus to the airport, which means most visitors experience it without stopping, and the deliberate viewing point is the Lantau Link Visitors Centre and Viewing Platform at the north-west corner of Tsing Yi, near the bridge's end, which looks along the length of the span.

History

Before the Lantau Link opened in 1997, Lantau could be reached only by water; the link was built as part of the programme for the new airport at Chek Lap Kok. The contract went to the Anglo Japanese Construction Joint Venture of Costain, Mitsui and Trafalgar House, construction began in May 1992, the first steel deck segment was lifted into place in late 1994, and the bridge was finished in May 1997 at a cost of HK$7.2 billion, the Lantau Link being inaugurated on 27 April 1997 (Wikipedia, Tsing Ma Bridge).

What's there

• A 1,377-metre main span - the longest road and rail span when it opened.
• The enclosed lower deck - rail and typhoon carriageways beneath the road.
• The Lantau Link viewing platform - the designated place to stop and look.
• Night illumination - the towers and cables lit after dark.

When to go

October to April for clear air; dusk for the lighting. One to two hours at the viewing point. The visitor centre has limited opening days, so check before going.

Good to know

There is no pedestrian access to the bridge itself. The visitor centre is awkward to reach without a car and has restricted hours. Haze often flattens the view. Crossing it by airport train takes seconds and shows little.

Nearby

Tsing Yi is east; Lantau lies west across the span.

Key facts