Tamar Bridge

The Tamar Bridge is a major road bridge at Saltash and Plymouth in southwest England carrying traffic between Cornwall and Devon over the River Tamar. It is adjacent to the Royal Albert Bridge.

When it opened in 1961, the Tamar Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the United Kingdom. In 2001 it became the world's first suspension bridge to be widened (from three to five lanes) using cantilevers. The five lanes are divided as follows: three lanes carry the A38 trunk road (the middle lane being a reversible lane), the fourth is reserved for eastbound local traffic and the fifth for pedestrians and cyclists. Previously all traffic merged and shared the three lanes.

Construction of the Tamar Bridge began in July 1959. Before this, the lowest road crossing of the River Tamar was Gunnislake New Bridge at the village of Gunnislake, a seven-arched granite bridge was built in the early 16th century (c. 1520), in use, wide enough to carry one lane of motorised traffic. Before the Tamar Bridge was opened, most travellers between Saltash (on the Cornish side) and the Devon city of Plymouth used ferries. The Tamar Bridge carries approximately 40,000 vehicles every day. It is co-owned by Plymouth City Council and Cornwall Council, and is managed by the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee. A toll of £1.50 per car is charged when driving from Cornwall into Devon if paid in cash, halved to £0.75 if using its electronic pre-payment system. Motorcycles do not have to pay.