Local MPs, MSs and councillors from Ynys Môn and Gwynedd recently met with Welsh Government highways staff to discuss the reopening of Menai Bridge, and the congestion being caused on Britannia Bridge.
The Welsh Government confirmed that the risk to road users was caused by brittle hangers, which are used to keep the bridge deck suspended over the Menai Straits. Despite this defect being identified in the 1990s, the Welsh Government has only more recently identified that this may cause a safety risk. Weaknesses to the structure were identified earlier this year, and further testing prompted the emergency closure of Menai Bridge last month.
The Welsh Government are planning a temporary solution, adding additional supports to the brittle hangers and allowing Menai Bridge to reopen to road traffic under 7.5 tonnes in early 2023. They’re also exploring options to improve traffic flow across Britannia Bridge to ease congestion on the A55.
Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, said:
The meeting with officials from the Welsh Government was productive, but it is important that safely reopening Menai Bridge is treated as a priority by the Welsh Government. Officials heard loud and clear about the impact the closure is having on businesses in Menai Bridge itself, as well as on congestion along the A55 trunk road.
Virginia Crosbie, Member of Parliament for Ynys Môn, said:
The closure of Menai Bridge has already had a real impact on residents and businesses across Ynys Môn. Along with my Conservative colleagues I will be pushing for compensation for local businesses and additional critical healthcare support on the island from the Welsh Government. It is vital that plans for a third Menai Bridge are accelerated given the new bridge will take seven years to build.
Y diweddaraf ar gau Pont Menai
Mae Aelodau Seneddol, Aelodau o’r Senedd a chynghorwyr lleol o Ynys Môn a Gwynedd wedi cyfarfod â staff priffyrdd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ddiweddar i drafod ailagor Pont Menai, a’r tagfeydd sy’n cael eu hachosi ar Bont Britannia.
Cadarnhaodd Llywodraeth Cymru bod risg i ddefnyddwyr ffyrdd oherwydd bod y crogfachau, sy’n cael eu defnyddio i gadw llawr y bont dros y Fenai yn ei le, wedi dirywio. Er i’r gwendid hwn gael ei gofnodi yn y 1990au, dim ond yn ddiweddar mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi nodi y gallai hyn achosi risg diogelwch. Nodwyd diffygion i’r strwythur yn gynt eleni, ac yn dilyn profion pellach cafodd y bont ei chau ar unwaith fis yn ôl.
Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn bwriadu cyflwyno datrysiad dros dro, gan atgyfnerthu’r crogfachau er mwyn galluogi ailagor Pont Menai i draffig ffyrdd dan 7.5 tunnell yn gynnar yn 2023. Mae’r Llywodraeth hefyd yn pwyso a mesur opsiynau i wella llif traffig ar Bont Britannia i wella tagfeydd ar yr A55.
Meddai Sam Rowlands, Aelod o’r Senedd dros Ogledd Cymru:
Roedd y cyfarfod gyda swyddogion o Lywodraeth Cymru yn un cynhyrchiol, ond mae’n bwysig bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhoi blaenoriaeth i ailagor Pont Menai yn ddiogel. Clywodd swyddogion am yr effaith mae cau’r bont yn ei chael ar fusnesau ym Mhorthaethwy ei hun, ynghyd â thagfeydd ar hyd yr A55.
Meddai Virginia Crosbie, Aelod Seneddol dros Ynys Môn:
Mae cau Pont Menai eisoes wedi cael effaith go iawn ar breswylwyr a busnesau ledled Ynys Môn. Byddaf i, ynghyd â fy nghydweithwyr Ceidwadol, yn ymgyrchu dros iawndal i fusnesau lleol a chymorth gofal iechyd hanfodol ychwanegol ar yr ynys gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Mae’n hollbwysig bod cynlluniau ar pont ychwanegol dros y Fenai yn cael eu cyflymu o ystyried y bydd yn cymryd saith blynedd i adeiladu’r bont newydd.
