Lowestoft joy as Princess Anne opens £145m Gull Wing bridge

Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne officially opens Lowestoft's £145m Gull Wing Bridge (Image: Sonya Duncan) There were cheers and loud applause as Princess Anne officially opened Lowestoft's £145m Gull Wing Bridge on Tuesday afternoon.

Princess Anne officially opens Lowestoft's £145m Gull Wing Bridge. (Image: Sonya Duncan) Describing it as "very aptly named", The Princess Royal unveiled the town's new third crossing that has eased congestion and is delivering huge benefits to the town.

Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne officially opens Lowestoft's £145m Gull Wing Bridge (Image: Sonya Duncan) Unveiling a plaque at the base of the control tower to formally open the new bridge - which has been decades in the making - the Princess Royal said: "The Gull Wing bridge is unique in many respects and I am sure that the people of Lowestoft will not only make very good use of it, but really appreciate it.

Princess Anne officially opens Lowestoft's £145m Gull Wing Bridge (Image: Sonya Duncan) "Persistence and patience has really paid off."

Princess Anne tours Lowestoft's £145m Gull Wing Bridge (Image: Sonya Duncan) Weeks after the £145million Gull Wing bridge welcomed traffic and heralded a new era in Lowestoft on September 7, The Princess Royal met groups of people involved with the bridge planning and construction as well as officials including Lowestoft MP Jess Asato and the mayor of Lowestoft Nasima Begum at the Riverside council offices.

Princess Anne was in Suffolk on Tuesday (Image: Sonya Duncan) There was then the chance to view the new 345-metre bridge - which was built on behalf of Suffolk County Council by civil engineering contractor Farrans Construction - and see the bascule wings, before visiting the control tower.

 Princess Anne praised the bridge scheme Picture: Sonya Duncan (Image: Sonya Duncan) To loud applause from hundreds of people outside, The Princess Royal pressed the button to open the bridge.

Hundreds of people turned out to see Princess Anne officially open Lowestoft's £145m Gull Wing Bridge. Picture: Sonya Duncan (Image: Sonya Duncan) And there were 'three cheers' as traditional Lowestoft fishing smack The Excelsior - of which The Princess Royal is Patron - sailed through, along with Lowestoft RNLI relief lifeboat Eric's Legend and the Kingfisher pilot boat.

Princess Anne with the three schoolchildren at the official opening of Lowestoft's £145m Gull Wing Bridge. Picture: Sonya Duncan (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Princess Anne had several engagements in Suffolk on Tuesday.

She was also due to visit the Suffolk Punch Trust at Hollesley - an event that was previously postponed - and was scheduled to take part at a meeting at Peter O'Sullevan House just outside of Newmarket, the home of British horseracing.