BEIJING, APR 02 (DNA) – China is ready to inaugurate the longest sea bridge in the world this year. The bridge, which connects Hong Kong and Macau with mainland China , is 55 km long and six lanes wide. The project is aimed at bringing these three places closer by reducing the journey time to just about an hour long.

Reportedly built using more steel than as many as 60 Eiffel Towers, the multi-billion dollar project has been touted as the result of an international collaboration.

This concrete monster also boasts of four tunnels and four artificial islands. “We have included a lot of foreign experts from the UK, US, Denmark, Switzerland, Japan, and the Netherlands,” Gao Xinglin, Bridge team leader, “They are from around 14 countries.”

The bridge, however, has drawn criticism for over-spending and being responsible for some deadly accidents. But Chinese authorities have applauded the completed project, inviting foreign media this week to cover the bridge. The official inauguration date, however, has not been announced.