approved in October 2009; the new toll came into force on 26 October 2009. From October 2013 a complete reconstruction took place, with new and stronger piling and steel spans. The white lattice iron girders of the 1902 structure were refurbished and incorporated in the design. The contractor was Balfour Beatty, the designer Atkins and the project manager Oxfordshire County Council. During reconstruction the bridge was closed to vehicles, but a temporary footbridge was provided. The project was delayed for several months by exceptional flood flows in the Thames and the new bridge was finally opened on 19 September 2014. A blessing ceremony was conducted five days later by the Bishop of Oxford, during which a 1902 De Dion-Bouton was driven across the bridge, carrying Bridge Company directors and a descendant of one of the original bridge promoters of 1792. As a result of the delays and consequent overspend on the reconstruction, the company proposed a further toll increase and a public enquiry was held on 19 May 2015. It considered 293 written objections but approved the request to increase tolls to 60p for cars and £4 for vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes, on 12 August. In 2019 it was announced that the Company of Proprietors of Whitchurch Bridge had been sold to the General Estates Company, who previously held a minority stake in the company since the late 1920s. Gallery See also Crossings of the River Thames Notes and references Footnotes Citations External links Whitchurch Bridge web page from Whitchurch-on-Thames village web site Independent Archive of Official Whitchurch Bridge Documents and Accounts Bridges in Berkshire Bridges in Oxfordshire Bridges completed in 1902 Bridges across the River Thames Toll bridges in England Grade II listed bridges Grade II listed buildings in Berkshire Grade II listed buildings in Oxfordshire