Latest news with #UKHighwaysA55Ltd
North Wales Live
20-07-2025
- Automotive
- North Wales Live
Menai Suspension Bridge update on work planned in phase two of mammoth makeover
The team behind the massive revamp of the Menai Suspension Bridge have explained the work that will take place in the coming months. On October 1, 2022, the bridge linking Anglesey and Gwynedd was shut abruptly following the discovery of structural issues. Phase one works to replace the bridge hangers began on September 4, 2023, and were completed in October 2024. Welsh Government then delayed the start of Phase two - with that work starting in March 2025, with a planned completion by the end of the year. This was then put back to spring 2026 which means roadworks and traffic lights will remain in place for months longer, with just one lane open. It was a decision attacked by Plaid MS Rhun ap Iorwerth. UK Highways A55 Ltd, and primary contractor Spencer Bridge Engineering, this week put out information about the work that is taking place. They said the completion of this phase will help safeguard the Menai Suspension Bridge, a Grade I listed Georgian structure, for generations to come. This follows the success of Phase One which replaced 168 hangers using custom technology. The latest phase of works includes essential maintenance to the bridge's corbels, land saddles, parapets and underdeck as part of a new work programme. Currently, all of the bridge's hangers are receiving new coats of paint and UK Highways A55 Ltd is finalising all the necessary certifications and approvals for each of the Phase Two elements. This new work programme has been optimised using new data and experience from Phase One, particularly the challenging weather conditions of the Menai Strait. The new project will see Spencer Bridge Engineering's teams carry out repair works on 15 of the bridge's corbels - concrete beams which support the footway on the approach spans. During Phase One the team were able to repair 45 of the 60 corbels using rope access, but the remaining 15 require intrusive works to be carried out on site. The team will also carry out repair and painting of the parapets, which run along the entire length of the bridge, as well as the load checking and re-stressing of the land saddles, which anchor the cables of the bridge to the ground on the Anglesey side of the bridge. The Spencer Bridge Engineering team will deploy its innovative new modular moving access system for the first time, during the underdeck painting stage of the project. Named AeroTruss, this is an innovative access system which has been developed and designed by Spencer Bridge Engineering's expert in-house team to address common issues associated with other temporary access systems currently available in the market. They said the AeroTruss system will ensure the team can safely access the underdeck of the bridge, while minimising load effects into the bridge structure, due to its aerodynamic properties. Luke Fisher, Spencer's Bridges Director, said: 'We are delighted to be continuing our successful partnership with UK Highways A55 Ltd to restore this iconic bridge and ensure it can remain in use for decades to come. This project is particularly exciting for us as it's the first time we are using our new AeroTruss system, which has been in development for over three years. "With over 25 years' experience in the bridges sector, we've become familiar with some of the common issues faced while working on high-level structures, so we've developed AeroTruss to address these issues and ensure we can provide clients with the most efficient, high-quality service, while protecting the historic structures we're working on.' As part of their commitment to deliver for Anglesey and north Wales, UK Highways A55 Ltd and Spencer Bridge Engineering said they continue to engage and appoint local contractors to support the work programmes where possible including all of the hanger painting technicians being recruited from the local area.
North Wales Live
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- North Wales Live
Menai Suspension Bridge roadworks to drag on as Welsh Government issue update
Major works on the Menai Suspension Bridge are set to drag on, the Welsh Government announced today. On October 1, 2022, the bridge linking Anglesey and Gwynedd was shut abruptly following the discovery of structural issues. Phase one works to replace the bridge hangers began on September 4, 2023, and were completed in October 2024. Welsh Government then delayed the start of Phase two - with that work starting in March, with a planned completion by the end of the year. But today they revealed the work will not be finished until spring 2026. This means roadworks and traffic lights will remain in place for months longer, with just one lane open. Ynys Môn MS Rhun ap Iorwerth said: 'This is a huge blow for the local community, its economy and Ynys Môn more widely." Welsh Government's transport secretary Ken Skates said: "The iconic Menai Suspension Bridge is a historical and significantly important structure for the people of North Wales, as it provides a vital crossing point between Ynys Mon and the mainland. The bridge forms part of the A55 Privately Financed Initiative (PFI) across Anglesey, which UK Highways A55 Ltd. manage through a Design, Build, Finance & Operate (DBFO) contract. "The bridge is coming up to its 200th anniversary in 2026 and requires significant maintenance to ensure it continues operating safely for many years to come. These maintenance works (Phase 2), which entail full repainting and other preservation activities, were planned to begin 2 years ago but a potential defect with the hangers was discovered which forced their immediate replacement (Phase 1) and subsequently postponed the Phase 2 works until after the hangers were replaced. "The phase 1 works were successfully completed last October and permitted the bridge to re-open to all traffic over the winter period; giving much needed resilience to the area, especially during the numerous storms which impacted Wales last year, by allowing traffic to continue to cross while the Britannia Bridge was affected by high winds. "Unfortunately, and extremely disappointingly, due to procurement issues, additional requirements and issues in gaining necessary licenses, UK Highways A55 DBFO Ltd have made Welsh Government aware that the phase 2 works are now not likely to be completed until Spring 2026. "This will result in the works continuing during the bridge's actual 200th anniversary date of 30 January 2026, which is not what we would have wanted. However, UK Highways A55 Ltd have committed to us that they will ensure they are completed for the summer period to ensure the celebrations, which are currently planned to coincide with Thomas Telford's Birthday on 9 August 2026 at the height of the tourist season, can go ahead without restrictions and the bridge will be returned to its full former glory. "My officials will be monitoring the work closely, through frequent site visits and regular meetings with the site team, and if there is any scope for the work to be finished earlier, then it will be done. "I am extremely disappointed that the original programme from UK Highways A55 DBFO Ltd is now delayed. We were given assurances at the time that the Phase 2 works would be completed by December 2025, and I know this news will be very disappointing for the community and others. The age of the bridge and the fact it's a critical asset to the area means that it is imperative that works are completed to the highest of standards to ensure it continues to operate for the next 200 years." Rhun ap Iorwerth said the maintenance project was originally due to finish by summer 2025 but that deadline was later pushed to December 2025 after a decision was made to pause work over the winter months. He said this latest announcement means the completion date has now slipped by almost a full year from the original schedule. The Plaid Cymru leader said: 'This is a huge blow for the local community, its economy and Ynys Môn more widely. 'The Welsh Government promised that the work would be complete before the 200th anniversary of the bridge in January 2026, but now the planned celebrations by local community groups will have to be put on hold. Businesses will be counting the cost, commuters will suffer yet more delays for longer, and there's also the prolonging of safety concerns regarding access on and off the island in emergency situations. 'I have raised concerns with UK Highways that seemingly little maintenance work was actually being carried out on the bridge. Regrettably, they have kept residents in the dark and the fact that Welsh Government has announced this news on a Friday afternoon means there is no opportunity to ask the many questions residents will have. 'This announcement, coupled with the difficulties many on Ynys Môn faced over the Christmas period with the temporary closure of Holyhead Port, is further proof that the Labour Welsh Government is not serious about making sure our island infrastructure is fit for the twenty-first century. 'I will be raising this matter on the floor of the Senedd at the earliest possible opportunity, and will continue to make urgent enquiries.'
