The Member of the Senedd for Arfon has demanded urgent answers and accountability following the sudden closure of the Menai Bridge, which has left communities across Gwynedd and Ynys Môn facing major disruption.
Siân Gwenllian MS described the shutdown as an “incredibly frustrating blow” for residents, businesses, and commuters who rely daily on the vital crossing between Anglesey and the mainland.
“The sudden closure of Menai Bridge to traffic is an incredibly frustrating blow — not just for businesses and residents on Ynys Môn, but for people on this side of the Strait too,” said Gwenllian. “So many rely on this vital connection every day for work, education, and family life.”
The bridge, a key transport link over the Menai Strait, was closed without notice after engineers identified serious structural issues. Traffic has since been diverted to the Britannia Bridge, leading to severe congestion and travel delays across the region.
While Gwenllian acknowledged that public safety must remain the top priority, she questioned how such issues had been allowed to develop unchecked.
“Safety must always come first,” she said. “But how have we ended up in a position where serious structural issues are only being recognised now? For years, we’ve known that investment and a long-term plan for crossing the Menai Strait were urgently needed.”
She criticised what she described as a pattern of government inaction, saying local people are once again being made to bear the cost of poor planning.
“It’s unacceptable that once again, communities are paying the price for a lack of foresight and action,” Gwenllian added.
Gwenllian confirmed she would be working alongside Rhun ap Iorwerth MS and Anglesey Council leader Llinos Medi to press the Welsh Government for answers and a clear plan to restore and strengthen transport resilience across north-west Wales.
“Rhun ap Iorwerth, Llinos Medi, and I will be challenging the Welsh Government on why these resilience problems have been allowed to persist for so long — and demanding urgent clarity on what happens next,” she said.
She concluded by stressing the need for dependable infrastructure linking both sides of the Strait.
“People across Gwynedd and Môn deserve reliable, safe connections between our communities.”
The Welsh Government has not yet issued a detailed response on the expected duration of the closure or the measures being taken to assess and repair the bridge.
