Welsh Govt to resurrect third Menai crossing
In development for more than a decade only to be binned in 2023, the new bridge spanning the Menai Strait is back on the table according to the deputy minister for transport Mark Hooper.
Hooper addressed the Senedd on Tuesday, announcing the government’s intent to revive the long-stalled project, which would provide an alternative route to the existing Menai Suspension Bridge and Britannia Bridge crossing and thus alleviate traffic congestion.
Hooper said that the government would pick up on work already done on the scheme to craft detailed options for the crossing. Prior to the shelving of the crossing project in 2023, the scheme had a £400m price tag and a 2027 start date. It proposed building a four-lane bridge east of Britannia Bridge, which would then be reconfigured to be suitable for local traffic and cyclists. AECOM and Richards had led the consultant team.
Both of the existing bridges have their issues. The suspension bridge has been plagued with a series of closures recently due to a mix of maintenance work and drivers ignoring the 7.5-tonne weight limit. The bridge itself is undergoing a series of critical structural repairs, with main contractor UK Highways A55 due to complete the work in spring 2027.
Britannia Bridge is vulnerable to high winds, which the government hopes to mitigate by pursuing the installation of wind deflectors.
“I recognise the disruption these closures have caused to communities across Ynys Môn and all those travelling in the north of the country,” Hooper told the Senedd.
“This has understandably led to deep frustration, and increasing anger, among those affected, and this government will act with greater urgency and focus on short-term measures and long-term solutions to improve resilience across the Menai Strait.”
Best news ever Anglesey has suffered set backs over the years ,everything seems to gio down to South Wales for years now ,and people in Angkesely feel like Poor Country Cousins ,so bring it on .
By Ann Hughes
And pigs will fly, £400m to be submitted to the North maybe. But if it was in the South?
By Gaz Taxis
The easiest option for a new bridge is to build alongside the existingBrittania bridge by building a similar style bridge. If they could build the existing one nearly 200 years ago then surely we can replicate the existing bridge.
By Derek Hallwood
Typical MPs fobbing the people off. The work needs to start sooner rather than later. The Free port Wylfa and any other businesses thinking of coming to the island need to be confident and assured of reliable access over the Menai Straight.
By Anonymous
Silly idea
By Anonymous
How about getting Republic of Ireland to contribute seeing as most of the traffic goes to Ireland ,the Irish are quick to moan if one of the berths in Holyhead is out of action, an additional crossing is crucial to irish economy, new Wylfa and free port status, the island needs some serious investment, the new crossing would bring that to the Island its a no brained
By Gareth lloyd
Being a truck driver i agree to a third bridge as it is long overdue to ease the congestion
By Shane Bedward
The view between the two bridges at the moments is in my opinion one of the best in the world. A new crossing is going to spoil that unless it’s built to the east of Menai Bridge. Even at peak times the traffic is significantly less than the M62 or M56 into Manchester every morning.
By Anonymous
Not in my lifetime and I’m still at school !
By Terence Hackett
@Gareth lloyd I think you`ll find there’s other options for Irish freight to get to the UK i.e. Belfast to Birkenhead and Stranraer, also Ireland has created new routes direct to Spain and France to cut out the UK following brexit. This issue is a new bridge has been talked about for years, but built it already!
By GetItBuilt!
Yes, there definitely needs to be a third bridge over the Menai. A bridge capable of coping with modern traffic, but it also needs to look good and blend with the surroundings, for example the other bridges, it doesn’t need to stand out like a sore thumb.
By Darren
Tourism will be badly affected if nothing is done and the Holly head ferry will go into decline. A pedestrian
and cycle way is also a must. A tunnel
would cost too much.
By D Gleave
A third crossing is long overdue, we cannot stand still on infrastructure when more and more vehicles are coming onto the road system. Increased tourism as well must be catered for. Spain and Portugal just got on with building new roads. Even the A55 needs upgrading or build another motorway in the hills behind to bypass local traffic. Just as they have done in Spain and a Portugal. We are being left behind.
By David
No beware bridge needed.. has anyone seen publicly available traffic data that justifies a third crossing?
Please let me have the link if you have.
By Mark sadler
I think it would make sense to have a bridge across by Caernarfon rather than all traffic having to travel from Caernarfon all the way to one of the two existing bridges to cut down on journey times.
By Stuart