January 21, 2026 - 178 views
Repairs to the Menai Suspension Bridge will now be completed by spring 2027, the Welsh Government has confirmed, as further essential safety work and engineering assessments have led to a revised timeline.
Phase 2 of the long-running repair programme is due to restart in February and will focus on repainting the structure and carrying out ongoing maintenance to protect the bridge’s long-term integrity as it approaches its 200th anniversary.
The bridge has been at the centre of disruption for residents and businesses since its unexpected closure in 2022, which resulted in two major repair projects and widespread travel difficulties between Anglesey and the mainland.
Despite the delay, the Welsh Government says disruption during Phase 2 will be kept to a minimum. The bridge will remain open throughout the works to vehicles weighing up to 7.5 tonnes, with only short periods of traffic management required to complete key elements of the programme.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates MS, said the revised schedule followed additional engineering assessments after a critical crossbeam issue emerged last year.
“The Phase 2 works are essential to safeguarding the long-term integrity of this internationally significant structure,” he said. “While we are disappointed that the work could not be completed ahead of the bridge’s bicentenary, safety and structural integrity must always remain paramount.”
Mr Skates said the construction methodology had been redesigned to significantly reduce the need for traffic controls compared with earlier plans, helping to limit disruption for commuters, residents and businesses.
He also stressed the importance of enforcing the 7.5-tonne weight limit during the works, warning that non-compliance could lead to further closures.
Emergency access arrangements will remain in place should the Britannia Bridge be closed due to high winds or other incidents, with North Wales Police confirming they will assist in ensuring continuity of emergency services if required.
The works are being delivered by UK Highways A55 Ltd., supported by Spencer Bridge Engineering and COWI, on behalf of the Welsh Government. Officials have sought assurances from contractors that further delays will be avoided following earlier scheduling, procurement and enforcement challenges.
Mr Skates said he has met, and will continue to meet, senior representatives from Equitix, the overseeing organisation, to relay “deep frustration and disappointment” over the delays and to seek assurances the programme will be delivered “as safely and as quickly as possible”.
