Menai Suspension Bridge closes North Wales over bolt safety concerns

The Menai Suspension Bridge in North Wales was temporarily closed at 2pm on October 4 due to safety concerns arising from bolts on beams beneath the bridge requiring replacement as part of phase two maintenance work. Despite efforts to keep the bridge open to cars and motorcyclists, enforcement challenges reported by UK Highways A55 necessitated a full closure, with ongoing investigations and a safe enforcement strategy pending before reopening. Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, expressed frustration but emphasized safety as the priority, assuring the public that updates will continue during the closure. Separately, the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol faces potential closure to traffic unless its managing trust secures £20 million over the next 25 years to fund essential maintenance, including renovation of its paintwork and lighting systems to prevent ironwork corrosion. The trust has proposed increasing the toll from £1 to £1.50 to build reserves for future upkeep, warning that without this, structural integrity could be compromised, leading to closure similar to London's Hammersmith Bridge, which has been closed to vehicles since 2020 due to costly restoration needs. Both bridges highlight the critical importance of ongoing maintenance to ensure safety and operational continuity.