Delta bridge cowl represents mother looking at son

A radar tower was installed on the wind cowl of the tallest structure on Western Artificial Island of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB), topping it off on Oct 18.

Of two engineered islands linking an immersed sub-tunnel in the Lingding Sea, the western has been more quickly completed. Work included fair-faced concrete finishes to hold its milky-white wind cowl. It took three months to manufacture and install the structural steel frame using blocking partition technology.

Each head-shaped cowl for the islands weighs more than 330 tons. According to project manager Ge Yong, they are part of the ventilation systems designed for the interior of the immersed tunnel section. Each cowl has two special air outlets, one facing east, and the other west. Using convection, collected hot air and foul gas can be rapidly discharged to create a better environment for motorists.

Aesthetically, the cowl-covered air outlets on Western Artificial Island stand for a mother's eyes, while those on Eastern Artificial Island resemble the eyes of her son. They look affectionately toward each other; an effect said to add beauty to the entire structures.

Radar tower spire installed on Western Artificial Island

Wind cowl [Photos by Chen Xinnian / Zhuhai Daily]