Work will begin on the Menai Suspension Bridge in September with the aim of permanently restoring the historic structure in time for its 200th anniversary.
The Welsh Government announced that a second phase of work will see new permanent hangers installed, following a rigorous period of development and testing, as well as extensive paint work to the exterior of the bridge.
The work, which is due to start on 4 September, will be carried out by Spencer Group and overseen by UK Highways A55 Limited and the Welsh Government, which said the date has been chosen to minimise disruption over the summer holidays.
Work is expected to be completed the end of summer 2025. ahead of the bridge’s bicentenary in January 2026, officials said.
Lee Waters, deputy climate change minister with responsibility for transport, said: ‘To make sure this special bridge can continue to serve us into its 200th year we need to make sure the restoration is given the time it needs.
‘We will continue to work with all partners, including emergency services, to minimise disruption and get this work completed as quickly and as safely as possible.’
Although some traffic management will be implemented, the works will not mean full closure of the bridge.
The bridge, which links Anglesea to the mainland, was closed to all traffic in October last year after a 'structural concern' was identified by engineers.
In February the Welsh Government said it had identified a preferred method of replacing the hangers but need to test the methodology before proceeding.
A Welsh Government spokesperson told Highways at that time that its contractor had designed a method to de-stress, remove and replace each hanger, 'developed to ensure a safe and efficient way of carrying out the necessary work to bring the bridge back into full use, without needing to modify the structure of the bridge, recognising its local, national and international heritage'.
