SHUT FOR WEEKS

... THAT'S HOW LONG IT'LL TAKE TO FIX 'DEGRADED BOLTS' ON FAMOUS BRIDGE... SPARKING ANGER AND FRUSTRATION AND FUELLING CALLS FOR THIRD STRAIT CROSSING

- By ANDREW FORGRAVE Countryside and Tourism Editor

MENAI Suspension Bridge is expected to be closed for “weeks” while degraded bolts beneath the structure are replaced. In a meeting with a Welsh minister, Anglesey's political leaders called for a more definitive timetable along with the bridge's partial reopening for lighter vehicles.

Saturday's shock announcement that the bridge was closing to all traffic caused outrage on both sides of the Menai Strait. Commuters now face the more congested trips over the twolane Britannia Bridge - the only other crossing between Anglesey and the North Wales mainland.

It’s also reignited calls for a third Menai crossing and, online, even demands for Anglesey’s independence. Closure of the A55 Britannia Bridge for accidents or bad weather would leave Anglesey marooned, with 36,000 households unable to access Ysbyty Gwynedd and thousands struggling to travel to work. The UK's second busiest port at Holyhead would also be isolated.

Plaid Cymru leader and Ynys Mon Senedd Member Rhun ap Iorwerth has been left angered and exasperated by the latest turn of events. “It really is desperately frustrating,” he said. “It’s almost three years to the day that Menai Suspension Bridge was first closed and this must have led to a forensic examination of the entire structure. These faults should have been spotted earlier.

“They came to light as the bridge underdeck was being prepared for painting. This is simply not good enough - this should be a live issue requiring ongoing scrutiny.

“I'm now led to believe the bridge will be closed for weeks rather than many months. This is still unacceptable. Over the past three years the schedule has slipped and we still don’t have a solid timetable for the repairs.