The MP for Ynys Môn, Virginia Crosbie, has said she is ‘shocked and appalled’ by the sudden decision to close the Menai Bridge for safety reasons, calling the decision ‘anti-investment, anti-business and anti-jobs’.
The 200-year-old suspension bridge closed to all traffic on Friday, 21 October, following safety recommendations from structural engineers. Traffic is now diverted to the Britannia Bridge, causing delays at peak times and potentially causing problems during adverse weather or road traffic incidents.
As part of UK Highways A55 ongoing maintenance of the Menai Bridge, serious risks were identified and further testing will need to be carried out on the bridge, alongside the replacement of some of the hangers. This programme could take between 14-16 weeks to complete, with the bridge reopening in early 2023.
In a statement on Facebook, Virginia Crosbie MP said: ”I am shocked and appalled by the sudden decision by Welsh Government to close the Menai Bridge – without notice – for up to four months due to structural weakness caused by heavy traffic.
“This is a problem that should have been anticipated.
“The Welsh Labour Government – propped up by Plaid Cymru – has once again deprioritised our island with Anglesey losing yet another of its critical links to the mainland for months to come.
“The Welsh Government has a long-standing contract for this area with a company called UK Highways 55 Ltd.
“46,000 vehicles cross the Menai Straits each day and the Menai Bridge is a critical part of our infrastructure – particularly for the families, workers and our students who commute over the bridge daily.
“With the Britannia Bridge often closed to high sided vehicles due to high winds this move will also hit the port of Holyhead and our fragile Island economy.
“In June 2021 the Welsh Government froze all new road-building projects to conduct a review. The delay in this review and lack of investment in our infrastructure is having a devastating impact on Anglesey.
“This is unacceptable.
“I will be working with my Welsh Conservative Senedd colleagues to investigate why a 200 year old suspension bridge was not protected from the forces imposed by modern traffic. Your Conservative representative for Ynys Môn – Sam Rowlands MS has already put in an Urgent Question – and your Shadow Conservative Transport Minister Natasha Asghar MS– and I will be writing to the First Minister demanding answers.
“I am doing everything I can to bring jobs and investment to Ynys Môn – with new nuclear at Wylfa, an Anglesey Freeport and green energy initiatives – following decades of disinvestment that should never have been allowed to happen. Our island desperately needs good, reliable transport links in order to bring new opportunities to our community.
“This latest action from the Welsh Labour Government propped up by Plaid is anti-investment, anti-business and anti-jobs.”
