River Itchen
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Soton_itchen_01.jpg
Soton_itchen_01.jpg
The Itchen is tidal in Southampton
The River Itchen flows from mid-Hampshire to the head of Southampton Water in the south of England. The historic city of Winchester lies on the River Itchen; it then flows South West, through a series of water meadows, and into the Northern suburbs of Southampton.
At Swaythling the Itchen passes under Woodmill Bridge and becomes tidal. Four further bridges cross the river before its confluence with the River Test estuary in Southampton Water:
- Cobden Bridge, a 19th century road bridge connecting Bitterne Park and St Denys.
- The bridge carrying the Southampton - Portsmouth railway line.
- Northam Bridge, a road bridge carrying the A3024 road from Bitterne Manor to Northam, which was opened in 1974.
- The Itchen Bridge (pictured top-right), a high-level toll road bridge connecting the docks area with Woolston. This replaced the famous floating bridge (a chain ferry) which had previously crossed the river at this point.