Engineering feat: The vast bridge, the largest cross-ocean bridge in the world, cost £960million and took four years to build

Chinese TV reports said the bridge passed construction appraisals on Monday and it, along with an undersea tunnel, would be opened for traffic today.

It took four years to build the bridge, which is supported by more than 5,000 pillars across the bay, and it is almost three miles longer than the previous record-holder - the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in Louisiana .

Lengthy: The bridge stretches into the distance further than the eye can see and right, the first few cars roll out across the surface

Flowers: The first vehicle runs into toll station to the applause of staff and passers-by after the bridge opened to traffic today