THE feats of engineering behind the River Tamar’s two iconic bridges will be brought to life at a new learning centre.

The ‘Bridging the Tamar’ project has received £272,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund. This will see the former Tamar Bridge offices refurbished to create a hub for exploring the science and the heritage of both the road bridge, and the adjacent Royal Albert railway bridge constructed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1859.

The new learning centre, set to open in early 2019, will have the two bridge structures at its heart, and will reflect their place as feats of civil engineering in their own right.

The centre will also explore the role of the two bridges in the region’s social history, describing how they have shaped the continuing movement of people and goods across the River Tamar.

Visitors will be able to view the bridges from various vantage points, including from an outdoor classroom, and there will be interactive exhibits, such as mock control centre screens.

The road bridge was the longest in the UK at the time of its construction and a photographic archive will explain how it was done.