Itchen Bridge
The Itchen Bridge is a bridge over the River Itchen in Southampton, Hampshire. It is a high-level hollow box girder bridge. It is located about a mile from the river mouth. The bridge spans 870 yards (800 m), is 92 feet (28 m) at its highest point and weighs 62,000 tons. The bridge connects the A3025 Portsmouth Road to Southampton. It was built to replace the former chain ferry, known as the Floating Bridge, that crossed the river at that point. The bridge's set of blue energy-saving lights can be seen from up to 5 miles (8.0 km) down Southampton Water from the bridge.
Itchen Bridge | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 50°53′56″N 1°23′05″W |
| Carries | A3025 road (2 lanes) |
| Crosses | River Itchen |
| Locale | Southampton |
| Owner | Southampton City Council |
| Preceded by | Northam Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | High-level hollow box girder |
| Total length | 800 metres (870 yd) |
| Height | 28 metres (92 ft) |
| Clearance above | open |
| History | |
| Engineering design by | Kier Limited |
| Construction cost | £12.174 million |
| Opened | 13 July 1977 |
| Inaugurated | 22 March 1974 |
| Replaces | Woolston Floating Bridge |
| Statistics | |
| Toll | variable (based on vehicle type) |
| Location | |
The bridge has achieved notoriety as a venue for suicide, with over 200 alleged suicides recorded since its opening in 1977, prompting calls for the construction of preventive measures along its length.