As part of the Welsh road infrastructure bridges across the Menai Strait fall under the remit of the Welsh Government.
There has long been a proposal that a third crossing should be put in place. Indeed the Welsh Government commissioned Aecom to conduct a strategic business case for a third crossing nearly a decade ago. In 2016 they concluded that “The impact of not investing in the scheme has been clearly set out, with detrimental effects on the economy of the Isle of Anglesey and north west Wales, poor international connectivity and worsening performance of the trunk road network in terms of journey times, reliability and resilience. All of which will constrain the opportunity for future growth in Anglesey, surrounding areas and in particular impact on the ability of the Nuclear Power Programme to achieve its full potential."
In his Union Connectivity Review, Sir Peter Hendy identified the following as priorities:
- Improving connectivity between North Wales and North West England on the A55… for faster journey times, more resilience and capacity… and for connectivity with Northern Ireland and the Republic.
- Securing better connectivity for freight across the UK with ports, and freeports as they are established.
However, the Welsh Government has accepted its Roads Review's recommendation that plans for a third crossing be scrapped.
In recent years the full and partial closures of the Menai Bridge combined with the issues on the Britannia Bridge in high winds and peak travel periods have shown that access on and off the island is not as robust and resilient as we deserve. A robust and resilient transport infrastructure is critical for people on Anglesey to access healthcare, education and employment.
The companies I bring to Ynys Môn to look at the Anglesey Freeport and Wylfa sites make it clear that access to and from the island is something they need to factor in to whether or not they set up here. Without a third crossing we will struggle to attract the investment, employment and prosperity we want and need here.
That is why I launched my campaign for a third crossing over the Menai and why I have written to and spoken with UK and Welsh Government about how important this is for our island.
Please add your support by completing my survey below.
