The contract for the preliminary design and investigation of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge's main body has been signed on Friday by the representatives of the three sides.

The 30km bridge links the artificial island off Gongbei of Macao and the eastern artificial island for the tunnel section of Hong Kong. It will house a six-lane expressway.

To ensure unimpeded marine traffic on the main navigation channels towards Guangzhou and Shenzhen ports, a tunnel will link the two artificial islands.

Construction of the main bridge will be taken up by the Central Government, with Guangdong contributing seven billion yuan, Hong Kong 6.75 billion yuan and Macao 1.98 billion yuan, covering 42 percent of the cost. The remaining funds will come from loans.

(Xinhua News Agency March 14, 2009)