RAB by IKB for SC49

I’ve had a few days in Saltash, Cornwall being cosseted by my wonderful BFF. The sprained tendon is now improving, I can walk with the ankle strapped for longer distances and have reduced analgesia to regular paracetamol but still elevating my leg when sitting.
Progress which is most welcome!

Sunday challenge 49 - Bridge. Please view large ...


The Royal Albert Bridge is a single track railway bridge which spans the River Tamar in England between Plymouth, Devon and Saltash, Cornwall. Its unique design consists of two 455-foot (138.7 m) lenticular iron trusses 100 feet (30.5 m) above the water, with conventional plate-girder approach spans. This gives it a total length of 2,187.5 feet (666.8 m). It carries the Cornish Main Line railway in and out of Cornwall.

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. After Brunel's premature death on 15 September 1859 the directors of the Cornwall Railway Company decided to make the bridge a memorial to him by adding the words I.K. BRUNEL, ENGINEER, 1859 in large metal letters on either end of the bridge.

During the 20th century the approach spans were replaced, and the main spans strengthened.


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PiP.

During the 20th century, there was increasing demand to replace or supplement the Saltash and Torpoint ferries, which could not cope with the rise in motor traffic between Devon and Cornwall The Government refused to prioritise a bridge project, so it was financed by Plymouth City Council and Cornwall County Council. The Tamar Bridge opened by the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, is a suspension road bridge adjacent to the RAB. It is 335 metres (1,099 ft) long, and part of the A38 a main road between the two counties.

A reconstruction of the bridge began in 1999 after it was found to be unable to support a European Union requirement for goods vehicle weights. The work involved building two new parallel decks while the original construction was completely rebuilt. The project was completed in late 2001 and formally opened by Princess Anne in April 2002. The extra decks have remained in use, increasing the bridge's capacity.

[For lots more details see Wiki. The bridges have separate pages under their own names.]