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Menai Bridge work won't finish until December 2025

Getty Images The Menai Bridge is made of stone, with blue water flowing beneath. Green trees to the left hand side. A cloud sunset in the background.Getty Images
The programme had been scheduled to last two years, but it could now take at least 27 months to complete

Repairs to one of the two bridges linking the north Wales mainland to Anglesey will not be finished until the end of 2025.

Ynys Mon Member of the Senedd (MS) and Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth voiced disappointment over the Menai Bridge delay and said it “feels as if we’ve been misled”.

He claimed an initial end date of August next year has been moved to the following December.

But the Welsh government said the length of the programme had not been altered, and it was "pausing pausing the start of phase two" so the bridge could reopen fully over winter..

Serious safety concerns were identified during a technical analysis leading to the closure of the bridge for four months in 2022.

The work began in September 2023 and has caused delays for people trying to get between the island and the mainland.

The programme had been scheduled to last two years, but recent developments mean the project could now take at least 27 months to complete.

Mr ap Iorwerth also claimed that when the works programme resumes in March, traffic management will be on the bridge at all times, including weekends.

Until now, the traffic measures have only been in place during weekdays.

Menai Bridge with a 'road closed' sign and traffic bollards in the road, as some pedestrians cross over
The bridge was closed suddenly over 'serious' risks to public safety in October 2022

Mr ap Iorwerth said there was an initial welcome to the news that repair work would be paused over the winter, with the implication that the project was ahead of schedule.

However, he said it “feels as if we’ve been misled” as a result of the four-month delay extending it from August to December.

"While the work being undertaken to ensure the bridge is safe and resilient is important, it’s clearly impacting local residents and businesses, and now disruption will be prolonged beyond what they were initially told," he said.

The Welsh government said: “The length of the programme of works has not altered.

"We’ve listened to stakeholders and the local communities and are pausing the start of phase two to allow the full reopening of the bridge over the winter, including the Christmas period, to help local businesses.”

On its website, the Welsh government also said: “We expect all the required works will be completed by the end of December 2025 (subject to weather).

"This will ensure the Menai Suspension Bridge is ready for its 200th anniversary in 2026.”