Profits slide for firm maintaining suspension bridge

THE company responsible for the A5 Menai Suspension Bridge has seen profits slide since major repairs began in autumn 2022. However dividends of £6.758m have since been paid out to shareholders.

- ANDREW FORGRAVE

On October 4, the 199-year-old bridge was closed with little warning for safety reasons after “rusty nuts and bolts” were found. It was reopened six days later with a three-tonne weight limit.

It was the crossing’s second emergency closure after problems with the bridge hangers were identified in October 2022.

Since March 31, 2025, repairs have cost £8.964m, with more set aside for maintenance not yet completed.

The Western Mail has examined the accounts of UK Highways A55 Ltd, which won a £101m contract to build the A55’s 31km Anglesey extension to Holyhead in 1998.

Under the deal, the company was also required to maintain an extra 9km of trunk road, including the two Menai Strait road bridges.

The accounts reveal the Welsh Government has so far paid more than £350m and by the time the 30-year contract expires in December 2028, the total bill is likely to exceed £400m.

UK Highways A55 Ltd borrowed £109m to finance the infrastructure in a contract agreed by Tony Blair's UK Labour Government under a PFI Design-Build-Finance-Operate (DBFO) arrangement. The company has no staff, three unpaid directors and uses a subcontractor for road maintenance.