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 , is at its highest point and weighs 62,000 tons. It was officially opened on 13 July 1977. At the Woolston end a toll booth operates daily. Southampton City Council levy a variable toll, depending on vehicle type. The toll was originally charged in order to help pay the £12.174 million it cost to build. The toll succeeded in this some years ago, but the toll remains to control the traffic in the areas surrounding the bridge. The bridge was opened by HRH Princess Alexandra, The Hon Mrs Angus Ogilvy on 13 July 1977, although it had been open to public foot traffic since 31 May 1977 when Mrs Edith Parks became the first person to cross it. On 21 December 2010, it was announced that an automatic toll system would replace the staffed booth, saving over £200,000 annually.