The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link has marked its first month of operation, recording a cumulative traffic volume exceeding 3 million vehicles. As of the afternoon of July 30, the link averages a daily traffic flow of over 100,000 vehicles, representing approximately 25 percent of the total traffic across the Pearl River Delta crossings.

Officially opened on June 30, the link spans the east and west banks of the Pearl River Estuary. It provides the first direct highway connection between the eastern cities of Shenzhen, Dongguan, and Huizhou, and the western cities of Zhuhai, Zhongshan, and Jiangmen.

Before the link's opening, the Pearl River Delta region relied on three major river crossings: the Humen Bridge, the Huangpu Bridge, and the Nansha Bridge. Recent data shows that the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link has resulted in a 14.97 percent year-on-year increase in daily traffic across all four Pearl River crossings.

The new link has significantly diverted traffic from the Humen and Nansha Bridges, with the Humen Bridge experiencing a 26 percent decrease in traffic and the Nansha Bridge a 7 percent decrease.

These statistics suggest that the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link has effectively alleviated congestion and generated new travel demand, leading to an overall increase in traffic. Currently, the link handles approximately 25 percent of the crossing traffic, while the Nansha Bridge accounts for 36 percent, the Humen Bridge 21 percent, and the Huangpu Bridge 18 percent.

The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link is expected to play a crucial role in the ongoing development and integration of the Greater Bay Area, enhancing economic growth and improving the overall transportation network within this vital economic region.

Translated by China Daily from original report in Chinese as published in news.cn, the official website of Xinhua News Agency.