Maintenance work on the iconic Menai Suspension Bridge has encountered a significant setback, with Phase 2 of the project now unlikely to be completed before spring 2026.
Originally scheduled for completion by the end of 2025, the preservation works have been delayed due to procurement challenges, additional requirements, and issues in obtaining the necessary licenses. As a result, the work will overlap with the bridge’s 200th anniversary in January, although officials remain hopeful that the structure will be fully restored in time for the major summer celebrations planned for August.
The Menai Suspension Bridge is a historically significant structure for the people of North Wales, serving as a vital crossing point between Ynys Môn and the mainland. It is part of the A55 Privately Financed Initiative (PFI), managed by UK Highways A55 Ltd. under a Design, Build, Finance & Operate (DBFO) contract.
With the bridge approaching its 200th anniversary in 2026, significant maintenance is necessary to ensure it continues to operate safely for many more years. Phase 2 of the maintenance works, which includes complete repainting and other preservation activities, was initially planned to begin two years ago. However, the discovery of a potential defect with the hangers necessitated immediate replacement in Phase 1, delaying the start of Phase 2 until after the hangers were replaced.
Phase 1 was successfully completed last October, allowing the bridge to reopen to all traffic over the winter. This was crucial for providing resilience to the area, particularly during severe storms that impacted Wales last year, ensuring that traffic could cross while the Britannia Bridge experienced high winds.
Regrettably, due to ongoing procurement issues, additional requirements, and challenges in securing necessary licenses, UK Highways A55 DBFO Ltd has informed the Welsh Government that Phase 2 works are not expected to be completed until spring 2026. This means that the works will continue during the bridge’s actual 200th anniversary on January 30, 2026, which is disappointing for everyone involved. However, UK Highways A55 Ltd has assured us that they will complete the works in time for the summer celebrations, which are planned to coincide with Thomas Telford’s birthday on August 9, 2026, at the height of the tourist season, ensuring the bridge can return to its full glory.
My officials will closely monitor the progress of the work through frequent site visits and regular meetings with the site team. Should there be any opportunity to finish the work earlier, it will be pursued.
A spokesperson for the Welsh Government said: “I am extremely disappointed that the original timeline from UK Highways A55 DBFO Ltd has been delayed. We were given assurances that Phase 2 would be completed by December 2025, and I know this news will disappoint the community and others. The bridge’s age, combined with its critical importance to the area, means that it is essential for the works to be completed to the highest standards to ensure it can operate safely for the next 200 years.”
