The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Corridor is expected to be completed within the year, will it be as "bleak as the passenger flow" of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge?
As important infrastructure projects in China in recent years, the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Corridor and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge are both cross-sea passages, but their positioning and functions are significantly different. First of all, in terms of length and connecting cities, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge is 55 kilometers long and connects Hong Kong, Macao and Zhuhai, while the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Corridor is about 24 kilometers long and connects Shenzhen and Zhongshan in Guangdong Province. The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Corridor was built to provide a purely inland cross-sea passage, while the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge enabled cross-sea traffic between Hong Kong and the Mainland.
Secondly, from the perspective of actual use, one end of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge connects the special administrative region, and its use is subject to certain restrictions. For example, a permit is required to transit from the Mainland to Hong Kong, which is a relatively cumbersome process. In contrast, both ends of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Corridor are located in the mainland, making it more convenient for vehicles to pass.
In addition, the two bridges serve different passenger flows. The total population of Hong Kong, Macao and Zhuhai is about 15 million, while the populations of Shenzhen and Zhongshan are over 10 million and nearly 5 million respectively. In terms of population size, the Pearl River Delta region connected by the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Corridor has a larger population and greater passenger flow potential.
The construction of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Corridor not only reflects its different positioning from the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, but also highlights its importance in solving regional traffic pain points. The completion of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Corridor will significantly shorten the commuting time between Shenzhen and Zhongshan, from the original 2 hours to about half an hour, greatly improving travel efficiency. For example, from Futian District in Shenzhen to Zhongshan Shiqi, it used to be necessary to pass through the Humen Bridge or Nansha Bridge, which was a long distance and took at least 15 hours. In the future, through the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Corridor, this distance can be greatly shortened.
The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Corridor also effectively avoids traffic congestion at Humen and Nansha Bridges. As an important two-way six-lane thoroughfare, the Humen Bridge is often heavily congested during peak hours. The Nansha Bridge, on the other hand, needs to be detoured, and the road condition is relatively poor. In contrast, the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Corridor, as a standard construction of expressways, will effectively divert traffic flow and reduce traffic congestion.
In addition, the toll of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Corridor is also expected to be lower than that of the Humen and Nansha Bridges, which will further reduce commuting costs. For example, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge is more expensive to cross, while the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Corridor is more affordable, which is a boon for residents who travel frequently between Shenzhen and Zhongshan.
The strategic layout and scope of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Corridor further demonstrate its importance in regional transportation development. From the geographical point of view, the southern end of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Corridor can be extended to Nansha District of Guangzhou, and the northern end can be connected to Jiangmen, Dongguan and other cities, forming a one-hour traffic circle connecting Shenzhen, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Guangzhou. This layout is of great significance for promoting the coordinated development of the Pearl River Delta region.
Specifically, according to the standard of "one-hour traffic economic circle", the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Corridor can cover nearly 30 million people within one hour, while the population within one hour of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge is smaller. Therefore, from the perspective of radiation effect, the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Corridor has greater potential to promote regional coordinated development and can drive broader regional economic growth.
At the same time, the Shenzhen-Zhongshan corridor also has good practical commuting needs. The combined population of Shenzhen and Zhongshan has exceeded 17 million, including a large number of commuters. Compared with Hong Kong, Macao and Zhuhai, Shenzhen and Zhongshan have larger populations and travel needs, and the construction of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan corridor can better meet this huge commuting demand.
Finally, the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Corridor also provides convenient access to surrounding cities such as Dongguan and Guangzhou, meeting a wider range of travel needs, which is an advantage that the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge does not have.
Although the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Corridor and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge are both cross-sea passages, there are obvious differences in positioning, function, traffic pain point solving ability and radiation range. The construction of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Corridor is not only an important project to solve regional traffic pain points, but also a key infrastructure to connect large cities in the mainland and meet the strong commuting demand. Its advantages in practical application are obvious, and its role in promoting regional economic development will be more significant in the future. Optimizing the strategic layout of regional transportation is crucial to enhance the competitiveness of urban agglomerations.