Tamar Bridge

The Tamar Bridge carries the A38 across the River Tamar between Saltash in Cornwall and Plymouth in Devon. It stands just north of Brunel’s Royal Albert Bridge and overlooks the Hamoaze estuary where the Tamar meets the sea. The bridge’s two concrete towers rise above the water, supporting steel cables that hold the road deck. A central span of 335 metres links the Devon and Cornwall banks, with smaller side spans extending the crossing. The structure runs parallel to Brunel’s railway bridge, creating a pair of landmarks visible from miles around. Demand for a fixed crossing grew as ferry services struggled with rising motor traffic in the 20th century. Plymouth and Cornwall councils funded the bridge after the government declined to support it, and Cleveland Bridge & Engineering began work in 1959. It opened unofficially in 1961 and was formally dedicated by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother the following spring. By the 1990s the bridge could no longer meet EU weight rules, so a major reconstruction added parallel decks and reopened in 2002 with Princess Anne present. Visitors crossing the bridge see the Tamar’s wide waters framed by the two counties on either side. The main deck carries three lanes with tidal flow to ease rush-hour congestion, while outer lanes serve local traffic and pedestrians. The northern cantilever lane links Saltash directly, and the southern cantilever once carried cycles and walkers. The bridge remains a landmark for protests and charity events, standing as a practical solution to an old transport problem.