Taiwan is to start building a 5.34-kilometer bridge linking two islands in the Kinmen area at the end of this year, local media reported, saying it would be the longest sea bridge in the region.

The bridge, linking the Greater Kinmen island and the Lesser Kinmen island, which are close to Xiamen, a mainland port city in southeastern Fujian Province, was approved by Taiwan's "Executive Yuan" Thursday, according to the report.

About 90 percent, or 4.78 km, of the 178-million-U.S. dollar bridge would be built over the sea.

Designed to take vehicles travelling at 60 km per hour, the bridge would drastically cut traveling time between the two islands from half an hour by ferry to only five minutes by car upon completion, the report said.

The bridge would boost tourism in the Lesser Kinmen island, a famous tourist attraction for bird lovers, the report quoted local relevant authority as saying.