At around 2,250 metres (1.4 mi), it is one of the longest road bridges in Europe, and was opened in 1966, replacing the old Tay ferry.

In August 1958 a traffic census was undertaken and test bores were taken in order to establish the most suitable location for a bridge crossing.

[3] The bridge consists of 42 spans with a navigation channel located closer to the Fife side.

Following the installation of the final 65 ton girder on 4 July 1966, the completed bridge was officially opened by the Queen Mother on 18 August 1966.

A passenger and vehicle ferry service across the River Tay operated from Craigie Pier, Dundee, to Newport-on-Tay.

The construction of the southern approach road resulted in the railway line from Tayport to Dundee terminating in Newport.

A 50-foot-tall (15 m) obelisk stands at the Newport side, and a smaller one at the Dundee side, to commemorate Willie Logan, managing director of the company that constructed the bridge who was killed in a plane crash near Inverness, and five workers who died during construction.

[13] These employees are mainly housed in a small administration block to the eastern side of the Dundee end of the bridge.