IT IS a Southampton city landmark that took nearly two centuries to become a reality.

36 years ago this week, on June 1 1977, Southampton’s Itchen Bridge opened for business and has been taking tolls from motorists ever since.

It was a historic and exciting moment for the city as crowds of people from either side of the river met in the middle of the bridge and shook hands high over the Itchen.

Among the first to cross was an 18th century landau drawn by a pair of greys with coachmen in period costume.

The then Miss Southampton, Julie Corps, released scores of balloons before 69-year-old Mrs Edith Park from Sholing, pictured, upstaged the whole ceremony by claiming to be the first person to walk across the bridge when she could not wait any longer and sauntered over.

Back in the 17th century a company was formed to build a swing bridge but the Admiralty ordered the project to be stopped because of fears of obstructing the river.

Construction work on the present bridge, which was built to replace the endearing Floating Bridge, started in 1974 and was completed on schedule with no significant accidents or injury among the workforce.

More than 870 yards long, the bridge is 92 feet at its highest point and weighs about 62,000 tons.

The structure was officially opened by Princess Alexandra a few weeks after the bridge took it first tolls. It proved a popular crossing point straightaway. In the first week alone 55,635 vehicles used the bridge, and £6,000 was collected in tolls.