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.”