Arup was extensively involved in the ambitious Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, a project that consisted of a series of bridges and tunnels connecting Hong Kong, Macau and Zhuhai. On the Macau side, Arup was commissioned by the Macau government in 2006 to undertake the feasibility study of the Macau Boundary Crossing Facilities (BCF) and associated link roads to the city.

Unlike the final scheme, the Macau and Zhuhai BCF were originally proposed to be located at separate artificial islands at that time. Arup successfully delivered the study with a combined island scheme and brought forward the BCF and infrastructural planning to the detailed design stage. We were responsible for the full design of all major infrastructure within the 70ha Macau BCF including viaducts, underpasses, roadworks, utility tunnel, drainage and sewerage. 

In 2014, Arup was engaged in a separate detailed design consultancy to design the Macau Link Road connecting the Macau BCF, via a new artificial island (reclamation A), to the Macau Peninsula.  

As an alternative linkage from Macau BCF and reclamation A to Taipa, a new 3.5km long dual 3-lane sea crossing was the solution selected by the Macau government. Arup was the consultant for project management and site supervision for this Macau 4th Crossing. It not only relieved the increasing traffic flow between Macau and Taipa but also helped to cope with demand from the completion of the HZMB and the future development of new reclamation areas.    

These transport links significantly strengthened Macau’s connections within the city and the Greater Bay Area as well. The HZMB provides an alternative transport mode for the citizens in the three cities, putting them in an hour’s drive of each other. More importantly, the crossing and associated works also eased the flow of cargo within the Greater Bay Area, especially between Hong Kong and the western Pearl River Delta, which is home to many manufacturers.