The new Hengqin Checkpoint and comprehensive transport hub project on the Haojiang River will be ready for border crossings by Dec 20 -- the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland.

Hengqin New Area and Macao are connected via the Lotus Bridge. The current Hengqin Checkpoint, which began operations in 2014, is being used on an interim basis.

Construction of the new project began in December 2016 and will be completed by the end of 2022. Costing 26 billion yuan ($3.8 billion), with a floorage of 1.3 sq km (321 acres), the complex will integrate customs clearance, transport, office, business, and residential functions. 

Construction site

The facility will feature a modernized garden style with a large landscaped rooftop. The concept of green, low-carbon, and circular development will also be accentuated by having an intelligent checkpoint under Internet Plus.

Meanwhile, a pleasant passenger experience is promised with spacious interiors, as the maximum single-story roof height reaches 8 m (8.7 yd). Support facilities include bakeries, restaurants, cafes, and convenience stores.

Among the other highlights will be a five-story east-west Joint Inspection Building 40 m (44 yd) high. It will have an Exit Inspection Hall on the Hengqin side and Entry Inspection Hall on the Macao side. The major structures for the Macao and Zhuhai sides were topped off on April 30 and May 30 respectively.

Rendering of new Hengqin Checkpoint

The Macao Lotus Checkpoint will move into the new Hengqin Checkpoint, and the two have already received approval from the State Council to implement a "Joint Inspection & One-time Release" customs clearance mode.

On site are 14 staffed inspection channels each for exit and entry, as well as 60 self-service e-channels. Passengers and vehicles can arrive in Macao with just a customs clearance, showing the streamlined procedures and increased efficiency of the checkpoint.

As planned, the checkpoint will be capable of processing 222,000 passengers, 7,259 vehicles, and 15,000 tons of cargo daily. For the moment, the current facility only processes 70,000 people and more than 3,000 vehicles every day.

Well-connected 

The comprehensive transport hub at the checkpoint will encompass coach terminals, bus hubs, tax service facilities, and parking lots.

The Hengqin Station of the intercity MRT connecting downtown with Zhuhai (Jinwan) Airport will also be set up at the checkpoint. It will realize a seamless transfer with the Guangzhou-Zhuhai Intercity MRT, while being reserved for Macao Light Rail Transit.

High-class design [Photos courtesy WeChat account: zhtqb12345]