Engineers carrying out repair works on the 200-year-old Menai Suspension Bridge will use new technology as part of an essential maintenance programme. The grade 1 listed structure is one of only two routes linking Anglesey with mainland Wales.

The bridge was closed in 2022 after serious safety concerns were identified during a technical analysis, says Nation Cymru.

Maintenance works on the Menai Bridge began in 2023 but were later delayed due to the discovery of defective hangers. The first phase was completed in October 2024 – It saw 168 of the Georgian structure’s hangers replaced using custom technology.

The second phase of work – which includes full repainting and preservation – is now underway.

The work is being led by UK Highways A55 Ltd, and primary contractor Spencer Bridge Engineering, on behalf of the Welsh Government. The latest phase of works includes essential maintenance to the bridge’s corbels, land saddles, parapets and underdeck.

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 of the works, the team repaired 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 a innovative new modular moving access system for the first time during the under deck painting stage of the project.

(Pic: Traffic Wales)