Fuzhou-Pingtan bridge to be completed this year

Construction of China's first cross-sea bridge accommodating both vehicles and railway traffic - the longest of its type in the world - will be completed this year and will open to traffic early next year, said Yao Pengyuan, one of its top engineers.

Pingtan Haixia Rail-Road Bridge will provide a 16.3-kilometer connection between downtown Fuzhou, Fujian province, and the island county of Pingtan off the east coast of Fujian.

The new bridge will cut travel time from two hours to about 30 minutes between the two areas.