Northam Bridge

Northam Bridge is a road bridge across the River Itchen in Southampton, England, linking the suburbs of Northam and Bitterne Manor. The current concrete bridge, opened in 1954, was the first major prestressed concrete road bridge in the United Kingdom. Three bridges have stood at this location since the late 18th century: a wooden toll bridge (1799), an iron bridge (1889), and the present concrete structure. The bridge forms part of the A3024 dual carriageway and carries approximately 35,000 vehicles daily. Local folklore tells of a vanishing hitchhiker—a soaking-wet young girl seen near the bridge—but no verified historical or photographic evidence supports the legend.

Northam Bridge is a road bridge across the River Itchen in Southampton, England, linking the suburbs of Northam and Bitterne Manor. The current concrete bridge, opened in 1954, is the first major prestressed concrete road bridge built in the United Kingdom. However, three bridges have stood at this location since the late 18th century. The idea of Northam Bridge was conceived by David Lance, who acquired land in Bitterne and built Chessel House there in 1796. Realising that access to his land was poor, he encouraged the building of a bridge linking Bitterne Manor to Northam, together with roads from the bridge to Botley and a further bridge over the River Hamble in Bursledon. The Northam Bridge Company was formed in 1796, funded mainly by Portsmouth businessmen. An Act of Parliament, the Northam Bridge and Approaches Act 1796 (36 Geo. 3, c. 94), was passed quickly to authorize the project. The first Northam Bridge was of wooden construction, opened in 1799. It became a toll bridge, with the toll payable at the toll house on the left side of the approach. Until 1929, when ownership transferred from the private sector to the Southampton Corporation under the Southampton Corporation Act 1928, the bridge operated as a toll road. The wooden bridge was replaced in 1889 by an iron bridge at a cost of £9,000. This iron structure served for 65 years before being replaced by the current prestressed concrete bridge in 1954, which cost £600,000 (including compulsory purchase of land and 610m of embankment construction). The third and current bridge was constructed by Rendel Palmer & Tritton, the same firm that built Waterloo Bridge in London nine years earlier. It carries the A3024 road as a dual carriageway with two lanes on each carriageway. At mid-span the bridge is 13.5 metres wide and 4.7 metres above mean high water springs. At 148 metres long with supporting piers up to 32 metres apart, it remains one of the most important river crossings in Southampton. In January 2015 the bridge was partially closed for waterproofing work costing £1.2 million as part of the government's £317 million "pinch-point programme," with about 35,000 vehicles using the bridge daily.

Northam Bridge is open to traffic 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, as it forms part of the A3024 dual carriageway into Southampton. There is no toll since the bridge was taken over by Southampton Corporation in 1929. Pedestrians may cross the bridge on footpaths on either side, though caution is advised due to the high speed of traffic and the absence of dedicated pedestrian crossings at bridge level. The bridge is accessible from both the Northam side (via College Street) and the Bitterne Manor side (via Cobden Avenue). For those interested in the bridge's history and legends, information panels are located at each end detailing the three successive bridges. The legend of the vanishing hitchhiker girl is a popular local tale, though as with all purportedly haunted locations, experiences are subjective. The Ship Inn, dating back to the 1830s and located to the right of the bridge approach, offers refreshments and has its own historic character; it is reportedly one of the oldest pubs in Southampton and features in local ghost walks. Public transportation routes 1, 2, and 7 cross the bridge frequently. There is no admission fee to cross Northam Bridge or visit the Ship Inn. Parking is available on nearby streets, though spaces are limited during peak commute hours. The bridge is fully wheelchair accessible via the pedestrian walkways, though the steep camber of the road surface may require assistance for some users.