The historic Menai Suspension bridge in Wales has been closed to traffic, following the discovery that some bolts underneath key beams are needing to be replaced. The bridge is undergoing maintenance work and had been left open to vehicles weighing less than 3tonnes, such as cars and motorcycles. UK Highways A55 has responsibility for the bridge, which carries the A5 over the treacherous Menai Strait.
The bridge provides a key traffic link between mainland Wales and Anglesey but the Welsh Government decided to close the bridge due to the concerns over the bolts. The ongoing refurbishment of the bridge is being carried out in several phases, with the first having commenced in 2023 and been completed in 2024. This second phase of the work involves painting the entire structure and was scheduled for completion in 2026 but will now also include replacing the bolts.
Traffic is being diverted to the nearby Britannia Bridge, which also links Anglesey to the Welsh mainland, until this latest repair is complete.
The bridge was previously closed to traffic for a four-month period in 2022 due to concerns over its condition. The historic bridge was designed by Thomas Telford and opened to traffic in 1826; the first major suspension bridge anywhere in the world. It is Grade 1 listed owing to its importance in terms of bridge engineering.
