The first phase of the small-vehicle clearance efficiency improvement project at the Zhuhai port of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) has been completed, with the second phase now in progress.

This project responds to increasing cross-border traffic driven by the “Hong Kong and Macao vehicles northbound” policy.

Between January and August, 353.23 million vehicles crossed the Zhuhai port, including approximately 197.79 million vehicles using the northbound channels. Currently, vehicles from Hong Kong and Macao account for nearly 70 percent of the port’s traffic.

The project has enhanced capacity by converting nine outbound truck lanes to also handle small vehicles, increasing the port's clearance capability by 50 percent. The average clearance time for small vehicles has been reduced from 90 to 60 seconds, while peak-hour capacity has risen to 1,500 vehicles per hour.

Additionally, Zhuhai has launched the HZMB Port Service Area to support cross-border travel. The facility includes 2,500 parking spaces, with sections for electric vehicles and accessible parking.

These upgrades aim to improve vehicle clearance efficiency and strengthen transportation links within the Greater Bay Area, supporting the development of a “one-hour living circle (一小时生活圈)” between Hong Kong, Macao, and Zhuhai.

This article is translated by China Daily from the original report in Chinese as published on the official website of hizh.cn, the official website of Zhuhai Media Group (珠海传媒集团)