Thousands of people crossed the new Adur Ferry Bridge in Shoreham-By-Sea for the first time today after it was opened to the public. HRH The Duke of Gloucester officially unveiled the bridge in front of a packed crowd at Coronation Green. The Duke pressed the button to close the swing bridge, before leading the throng of people over to Shoreham Beach. He was greeted by a gathering of school children from Swiss Gardens Primary School, Buckingham Park Primary School and St Nicholas & St Marys CE Primary School. He said: “It is a great honour for me to come to Shoreham on this beautiful sunny day and have the very pleasant task of declaring your new Adur Ferry Bridge open. “Clearly it is an important part of the infrastructure to this town and to the beach. “I am sure it will be greatly admired by the tourists who come here to enjoy the benefits of Shoreham.” The swing bridge, which crosses the harbour to connect Shoreham-By-Sea to Shoreham Beach, is for pedestrians, cyclists and mobility scooter users to use. Built by West Sussex County Council contractor Osborne, it replaced the old Shoreham Footbridge which spanned the River Adur for 91 years. The project was funded by West Sussex County Council, The Big Lottery Fund, cycling charity Sustrans and Adur District Council. West Sussex County Council Chairman Amanda Jupp said: “This bridge, like its elderly predecessor, is a vital link across the River Adur for the communities of Shoreham Beach and Shoreham town.” Osborne Chairman Andrew Osborne added: “It has been a pleasure and a privilege to have contributed in the development of this iconic structure. “We hope it will serve as a fitting legacy in replacing the old bridge and continue to serve the community for a further hundred years.”