The Menai Suspension Bridge, a vital link between Anglesey and mainland North Wales, was abruptly closed at 2pm on October 4, 2025, after engineers discovered that bolts on beams beneath the historic structure needed urgent replacement. The closure, announced by the Welsh Government and confirmed by Transport Secretary Ken Skates, has left residents, commuters, and local businesses facing renewed disruption and frustration—just as many thought the worst of the bridge’s troubles were behind them.
The bridge, which has stood for more than two centuries, has long been a symbol of connection for the region. Yet, as the autumn winds of Storm Amy battered North Wales, the announcement of the closure came as a double blow. Not only were roads already blocked by fallen trees and flood alerts, but now the main artery between the island and the mainland was suddenly severed. According to BBC News, the Welsh Government’s Transport Department posted on X: “Despite our best efforts, Menai Suspension Bridge will temporarily close for essential maintenance work from 2pm today (4 Oct).”
This decision was not made lightly. The Welsh Government explained that recent investigations, part of the ongoing phase two maintenance works, revealed bolts on the beams under the bridge required replacement. “Despite the Welsh Government’s best efforts to keep the Menai Suspension Bridge open for cars and motorcyclists, feedback from UK Highways A55 around the challenges with enforcement have led to the difficult decision to temporarily close the bridge from 14:00 on Saturday 4 October,” read an official statement cited by North Wales Live.
Transport Secretary Ken Skates addressed the public’s mounting frustration, stating, “Firstly, I want to apologise to local people. I am deeply sorry for the ongoing disruption that you are facing as work continues to remediate the bridge.” He added, “We have explored every option to keep the bridge open safely but following this latest feedback on enforcement from UK Highways A55, who are responsible for the maintenance of the bridge, our hand has been forced to introduce a full closure. I’d like to thank the police for their support over the past 24 hours.”
Skates did not hide his own exasperation: “I am incredibly frustrated at this latest development, and I can assure you that my officials and I are pressing UK Highways A55 for an early resolution to this issue. However, despite all our frustrations we must listen to the advice from engineers to ensure the safety of everyone.” The closure, he stressed, would last until further investigations are completed and a safe enforcement strategy is in place to allow phase two works to continue.
This is not the first time the Menai Suspension Bridge has faced such turmoil. Serious safety concerns were first raised in 2022, prompting a sudden closure that lasted four months. Maintenance work began in earnest in September 2023, causing intermittent delays and headaches for those traveling between Anglesey and the mainland. The first phase of the project wrapped up in October 2024, allowing the bridge to reopen to all traffic, but phase two—which includes a full repaint and preservation—was scheduled to run until spring 2026. Until this latest incident, the bridge had remained open during the ongoing works.
For many on Anglesey, patience is wearing thin. Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd for Ynys Môn, Rhun ap Iorwerth, voiced the community’s exasperation: “This is incredibly frustrating news. Whilst safety must be the top priority, it’s unacceptable that the bridge has been closed again with little to no warning—just as it was nearly three years ago. People on Ynys Môn have been waiting years for this work to be completed, and their patience is running out.”
He added, “I’m in close discussion with Anglesey County Council and I will continue to press the Welsh Government for urgent answers on why these latest faults weren’t identified sooner, how this will affect the project’s timetable, and what measures will be taken to lessen the inevitable impact of this closure.”
Local officials echoed these concerns. Councillor Gary Pritchard, Leader of Anglesey County Council, said, “Although we understand the rationale for restricting traffic over the Menai Bridge, it is a concern for us as residents that this weakness was not highlighted during the previous inspections. The restrictions highlight once again the concern we, as politicians on the island have repeated time after time, about the lack of resilience with regards to our crossings to and from the mainland.”
As the bridge remains closed, all vehicles are being diverted to the nearby Britannia Bridge—the only other crossing linking Anglesey to North Wales. But this alternative is far from ideal. Local resident Huw Roberts told BBC News, “The main problem is getting to and from Bangor—we now have to do a four mile detour over the Britannia Bridge. That bridge, when the ships come into Holyhead... the traffic is horrible. It will take half an hour, three quarters to get to Bangor instead of ten minutes.”
Another resident, Tomos Mather, reflected on the impact for local businesses: “Work has been going on for three years. If it was so severe they had to close it so quickly you’d have thought they’d have found that over the past three years.” Such sentiments are echoed by many who rely on the bridge for daily commutes, school runs, and the transport of goods.
The closure’s timing, coinciding with Storm Amy’s arrival, has only compounded the region’s woes. Emergency arrangements have been made for emergency service vehicles in case high winds force the closure of the Britannia Bridge as well. The Welsh Government has promised to keep the public updated as investigations continue and has assured that every effort is being made to resolve the situation quickly and safely.
Yet, the incident has reignited debate about the long-term resilience of Anglesey’s connections to the mainland. Councillor Pritchard stated, “We have been constantly calling for an assessment of the resilience of the bridges and the effect this has on the lives of the island’s residents and I will be asking for an urgent meeting with Welsh Government.”
As the days tick by and the bridge remains shuttered, the people of Anglesey are left to hope that this latest setback will spur a more robust and transparent approach to maintaining their essential infrastructure. For now, though, the detours, delays, and uncertainty continue, with many wondering how much longer they’ll have to wait before the Menai Suspension Bridge is once again open for business—and for life as usual.
