A55: 3rd Menai Crossing

The A55 is important locally, nationally and internationally. It provides the main economic artery for North Wales and forms part of the route Euro 22 on the Trans European Road network. 

We want to build a new third Menai crossing to:

• improve network resilience
• improve safety
• make it easier for people to walk and cycle
• improve reliability and journey times across the Menai Strait

This project is still in the planning stages.

We are following the steps outlined in the Welsh Transport Appraisal Guidance (WelTAG).

Current progress

We are preparing to procure consultants to develop this scheme.

Next steps

We will:

• appoint a consultant to develop a preliminary design
• carry out environmental and topographical surveys and ground investigation works
• develop a full business case (WelTAG stage 3)
• engage with stakeholders
• publish any draft legal orders needed, for example: compulsory purchase of land
• consult with the public and key stakeholders on draft orders, with opportunities to provide support or raise objections

These next stages of design development and gaining the required legal consents are expected to take between four and five years. 

Moving to building the crossing will depend on gaining the needed legal consents, funding and Ministers decisions.

Building a new crossing could take three to four years from that point. 

Timeline

2026

• Announced that development work is restarting on a third Menai crossing, including design work, environmental assessment, business case development, and legal approvals.
• Announced the continued development of wind deflectors and variable speed limits on the A55 Britannia Bridge. 
• Announced that a three-lane tidal flow system on Britannia Bridge would not be taken forward as evidence shows the system to have significant safety and operational concerns.

2025

• Completed the Menai Resilience Study on North Wales Transport Commission’s high-priority recommendations on improving the resilience of the connections to and from Ynys Môn.

2023

• The Roads Review published its final report recommending a third Menai crossing should not proceed.
• In response to these recommendations, we asked the North Wales Transport Commission to look at how transport connections to and from Ynys Môn could be made more resilient.

2018

• Announced our preferred route for a third Menai crossing.
• Published TR111 plan, which obliges the local authority to inform us of planning applications within 67m either side of our preferred route.

2017 to 2018

• Worked to understand transport issues across the Menai Strait (WelTAG stage 1).
• Held public consultation on 6 potential options (WelTAG stage 2).
• Reviewed consultation responses.