 Preferred location of the crossing in 2018, before cancellation | |
| Location | Menai Strait, Wales |
|---|---|
| Project website | gov |
| Status | Scrapped (2023), replaced with transport strategy review |
| Type | Dual-carriageway road bridge |
| Cost estimate | £400 million (2022) |
| Start date | cancelled |
The Third Menai Crossing (or (A55) 3rd Menai Crossing) was a proposed bridge over the Menai Strait, connecting the Isle of Anglesey with mainland Wales. The bridge was proposed to carry the A55 as a dual carriageway, and would have superseded the current A55 Britannia Bridge.
There were proposals for a tunnel in 2001, but these were deemed implausible. The first proposals for a bridge were made in 2007, with a preferred route for the bridge being selected in 2018.
The crossing was projected to cost £400 million and to take seven years to build. While no exact bridge design had been confirmed, a local civil engineer suggested it be supported by statues of Brân the Blessed (Bendigeidfran).
In June 2021, the Welsh Government indefinitely paused the proposal's progress as part of a review of road building projects over concerns of climate change emissions. In December 2022, the government had set 2030 as a "likely" date for the bridge's completion but did not formally commit whether the project would go ahead.
On 14 February 2023, the Welsh Government announced that the entire project would not go ahead, citing efforts to reduce car usage, its environmental impact and it being a "blot" on the landscape. The "Menai Corridor" public transport strategy review would be set up to replace plans for the formerly proposed crossing, with recommendations to be presented by the North Wales Transport Commission by mid-2023.[1][2][3] The problem of financing the project was later stated by the government as another reason why the project could not proceed.[4] Lee Waters, deputy minister for climate change, later stated the crossing could be considered again as part of a wider review into the infrastructure of North Wales, rather than separately.[5] The review into North Wales' infrastructure did not support a third crossing, but recognised that there might be future reasons to consider it.
- ^ Forgrave, Andrew (14 February 2023). "Third Menai crossing and 'Red Route' axed as major road-building plans scrapped". North Wales Live. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Forgrave-2023was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Plans for third Menai crossing axed in review of road improvements in Wales". North Wales Chronicle. 15 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ "No money for major road projects in Wales, minister says". BBC News. 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- ^ Lennox, Aaran (19 February 2023). "Welsh Government could 'look again' at third Menai crossing". North Wales Live. Retrieved 19 February 2023.