Core Insights - Guangdong Transportation Group celebrates its 25th anniversary, having expanded its highway network from 501 kilometers in 2000 to 8,181 kilometers by 2025, contributing significantly to the connectivity of the Greater Bay Area [1][2]. Group 1: Highway Development - The group currently has 8 highway projects under construction in the Greater Bay Area, totaling approximately 548.8 kilometers, with 2 new projects starting, covering about 201 kilometers and a total investment of around 2,137 billion [1]. - The highway mileage in Guangdong has seen consistent growth, surpassing 11,700 kilometers by the end of 2024, with the group accounting for 8,181 kilometers, representing about 70% of the province's total highway mileage [2]. Group 2: Economic Impact - The highways have significantly boosted regional economies, with the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Expressway contributing over 400 billion to the economy of the surrounding areas from 2002 to 2020 [2]. - The newly opened Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge recorded over 31 million vehicle trips in its first year, facilitating the free flow of talent, goods, capital, and information across the Pearl River Delta [2]. Group 3: Tourism and Business Growth - The influx of tourists due to the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge led to a 102.36% increase in visitors to Zhongshan during the 2024 National Day holiday, generating tourism revenue of 1.968 billion [3]. - The first phase of the Zhongshan Life Science Park has achieved a 65% occupancy rate, attracting over 30 biopharmaceutical companies to establish operations [3]. Group 4: Infrastructure Projects - Ongoing infrastructure projects include the Huangmaohai Cross-Sea Channel, the expansion of the Shenshan and Zhongjiang Highways, and the construction of various expressways, which are enhancing the connectivity of the Greater Bay Area [3].

Core Viewpoint - The Huangmaohai Cross-Sea Passage has been awarded the George S. Richardson Medal at the 2025 International Bridge Conference (IBC), marking it as the only project from China to receive this honor in the current session, and it is the second such award for Guangdong Province and Guangdong Transportation Group [1][2]. Group 1: Project Recognition - The Huangmaohai Cross-Sea Passage is recognized for its outstanding achievements in design, construction, research, and education, as it is awarded the most prestigious medal in the bridge industry [1]. - The IBC is a highly influential academic conference in the global bridge community, with awards established in 1988 [1]. Group 2: Technical Innovations - The project team has achieved significant innovations in aesthetic design, structural systems, damping devices, wind vibration control technology, and industrialized construction methods to address challenges such as typhoons and marine corrosion [1][2]. - Technologies such as central auxiliary cables, liquid viscous dampers, and friction pendulum isolation bearings have notably enhanced the bridge's stiffness and durability [2]. Group 3: Environmental Considerations - The project incorporates green and eco-friendly principles, ensuring ecological protection and avoiding sensitive areas, thus achieving harmony with the natural environment [2]. Group 4: Economic Impact - The Huangmaohai Cross-Sea Passage strengthens connectivity between underdeveloped regions in western Guangdong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, promoting coordinated regional economic development [2].

Core Viewpoint - The Huangmaohai Cross-Sea Channel has been awarded the George S. Richardson Medal at the 2025 International Bridge Conference (IBC), marking it as the only project from China to receive this honor in the current session [1][2]. Group 1: Award Significance - The IBC is a prestigious academic conference with significant influence in the global bridge community, and its awards are considered the "Nobel Prize" of the bridge industry [1][2]. - The George S. Richardson Medal is the oldest and most influential award established by the International Bridge Association, focusing on outstanding achievements in design, construction, research, and education [2]. Group 2: Project Innovations - The Huangmaohai Cross-Sea Channel is the second bridge project in Guangdong Province to receive this award, following the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Channel [2]. - The project team has achieved several innovative results in aesthetic design, structural systems, damping devices, wind vibration control technology, and industrialized construction methods [2][3]. - Technologies such as central auxiliary cables, liquid viscous dampers, and friction pendulum isolation bearings have significantly enhanced the bridge's stiffness and durability [3]. Group 3: Environmental and Economic Impact - The project incorporates industrialized construction techniques that improve precision and efficiency, achieving millimeter-level accuracy in construction [4]. - The design emphasizes ecological protection, avoiding sensitive areas to ensure harmony with the natural environment [4]. - As a vital infrastructure for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Huangmaohai Cross-Sea Channel enhances connectivity and promotes coordinated regional economic development [4].