of the Itchen was delayed by the piles hitting the remains of a jetty which had to be partially removed. Meanwhile on the west side delays were caused after construction disturbed a poorly documented system of sewers. Once the piling was complete pile caps were added and the bridge supports constructed on top of them. From the top of the bridge supports cantilevered arms were then constructed outwards. They were constructed symmetrically in both directions at once in order to keep the weight on the supports balanced. Once the cantilevered arms were complete the sections that spanned the gap between them were cast from concrete in the form of box beams on top of the arms before being moved into place on hydraulic bogies suspended from girders. In order to balance the weight large concrete blocks were placed on the opposite arm. During this period work was slowed by the 1976 British Isles heat wave and subsequent rains. Opening The original plan was for the bridge to open on 1 May 1977 but construction fell behind schedule and instead it was opened 1 June 1977. Before opening to motor vehicles it was decided to hold a pedestrian only day for people to examine the bridge. This was held on Tuesday 31 May 1977. The first member of the public across was the then 69 year old Mrs Edith Parks at around 13:30 with a general opening at 14:00. The bridge opened to motor traffic the following day, 1 June, at 10:30 with the mayoral car leading the way. Former Southampton MP Horace King, Baron Maybray-King decided to celebrate by being driven across in a horse-dawn Landau. Southampton's bus routes started using the bridge on 12 June. The bridge was named by Princess Alexandra, The Hon Mrs Angus Ogilvy on 13 July 1977. This had originally been planned as an opening ceremony but this was changed when the bridge was completed before that date. Maintenance and changes In 2011 the bridge lighting was switched to white LEDs with Blue LEDs placed on the uprights. As part of the bridge's maintenance eight expansion joints were replaced in March 2016. Toll At the Woolston end a toll booth operates daily. Southampton City Council levies a variable toll, depending on vehicle type and time of day of crossing. The toll was originally charged in order to help pay the £12.174 million it cost to