[photopress:hanzhou_Bay_Bridge_in_Cixi.jpg,full,alignright]China opened the world’s longest cross-sea bridge last week running from the port city of Ningpo and Shanghai across Hangzhou Bay. The idea is to cut a considerable amount of time for everyone traveling between the two ports.
Well, not quite for everyone.
Hundreds of drivers have been fined already for driving too slow in order to enjoy the view.Understandable. The 22.4 mile structure travels right across Hangzhou Bay and is, in itself, a most remarkable spectacle.
It is designed to slash travel time between Ningbo and the financial hub Shanghai from four hours to two and a half.
Unless of course you are taking the wife and kiddies out for a bit of bracing fresh air and a view of the bridge.
Thus, since its opening on May 1, police have fined more than 300 drivers, most for driving too slowly or illegal parking on the emergency lanes while enjoying the ocean view and taking photos.
Long lines of cars carrying whole families eager to see the bridge and sea vista have caused serious traffic problems and led to a series of accidents.
The $1.7-billion bridge’s much publicized ‘sightseeing platforms’ in the middle of the span will not be ready for tourists for another two years, local media have reported.
Source: Reuters