Return traffic on the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao (HKZM) Bridge reached “extreme peak capacity” late Monday afternoon, with private-car queues stretching more than 500 metres and clearance times exceeding 40 minutes. Real-time data from the bridge’s WeChat channel show throughput spikes began around 3 p.m. as families headed back to Hong Kong after the Chung Yeung long weekend. Unlike conventional land checkpoints, the HKZM Bridge uses a joint-inspection model that requires passengers to leave vehicles and pass through immigration control buildings on an artificial island. While the arrangement generally speeds up customs formalities, it creates bottlenecks when large numbers of unbooked private cars arrive simultaneously. Border authorities urged motorists to register for the Immigration Department’s e-Channel mobile service, which supports both HKSAR and Macau Resident ID cards. Eligible drivers and passengers who pre-enrol can complete biometric verification at automated kiosks, shaving up to two minutes off each inspection. Additional lane marshals were deployed to maintain queue order, and electronic road signs on the Hong Kong Link Road displayed estimated wait times in Cantonese, English and Putonghua. The jam had knock-on effects for cross-boundary freight. Several logistics providers told clients to expect evening delivery delays, while ride-hailing apps applied dynamic surcharges of up to 30 per cent for bridge pick-ups. The Transport Department says it will review whether a time-slot reservation system—similar to the one used at Shenzhen Bay during Golden Week—should be piloted on high-demand festival days. For corporate travel coordinators, the incident is a cautionary tale to avoid just-in-time departures when self-driving across the bridge and to keep contingency ferry or helicopter options on file for urgent Macao meetings.
Source: The Standard
