Royal Albert Bridge

The Royal Albert Bridge spans the River Tamar in the United Kingdom between Plymouth, on the Devon bank, and Saltash on the Cornish bank. It carries the Cornish Main Line railway in and out of Cornwall.

Royal Albert Bridge

Carries                                           Railway

Crosses                                          River Tamar

Locale                                            Saltash, United Kingdom

Designer                                        I K Brunel

Design                                            Lenticular truss

Material                                         Iron

Piers in water                                3

Total length                                   2,187.5 feet (666.8 m)

Width                                            16.83 feet (5.13 m) (inside piers)

Height                                           172 feet (52.4 m)

Longest span                                  2 of 455 feet (138.7 m)

Number of spans                            19

Beginning date of construction     May 1854

Completion date                            April 1859

Opening date                                 2 May 1859

It was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Surveying started in 1848 and construction commenced in 1854. The first main span was positioned in 1857 and the completed bridge was opened by Prince Albert on 2 May 1859. Brunel died later that year and his name was then placed above the portals at either end of the bridge as a memorial. Work was carried out during the twentieth century to replace the approach spans and strengthen the main spans. It has attracted sightseers since its construction and has appeared in many paintings, photographs and guidebooks. Centenary celebrations took place in 1959 and further events are scheduled for 2009, 150 years after its opening.