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A third Menai crossing is part of a new Regional Transport Plan that has been backed by Welsh Government. The Corporate Joint Committee for North Wales - which is made of Ambition North Wales and members of the region's six local authorities - has developed a plan for the next five years. It is part of a more strategic approach to improving transport in each region of Wales that will form a basis for local leaders to have a greater say in decisions about Welsh Government transport funding. This plan includes proposals to improve the road network, train and bus services, and active travel. It was submitted to Welsh Government earlier this year. Sign up now for the latest news on the North Wales Live Whatsapp community This has now been approved by Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales. The transport "aspirations" for the region include a third Menai crossing. The issue of resilience over the Menai Strait that separates Anglesey and Gwynedd has been highlighted in recent years by the closure of the Menai Suspension Bridge and frequent weather disruptions on the Britannia bridge. The report states that the crossing was crucial for employment, key services like access to hospitals, vital for businesses, and for the port of Holyhead . It adds: "For those reasons, our communities in North Wales have an aspiration for a third Menai crossing that would both further improve resilience and increase capacity, whilst also providing high quality facilities for active travel and public transport. There is an opportunity to work with potential developers at Wylfa to collaborate on transport improvements and power connection developments." The previous preferred option by Welsh Government for a third Menai crossing was a dual-carriageway A55 bridge next the Britannia Bridge. This was scrapped as part of Wales roads review but Welsh Government has mooted reviving the scheme. Other road 'aspirations' include: On rail, among the recommendations were: On transport issues at Eryri National Park and other tourism hotspots, the report recommends: Councillor David A Bithell, Chair of the Corporate Joint Committee’s Transport Sub-Committee, said: “This is a landmark moment for North Wales. The approved Plan reflects the needs in our communities and the ambition to create a transport system that works for everyone—whether you're commuting, running a business, accessing essential services, or visiting our beautiful region. “The plan sets out aspirations consistent with national policy, outlined in the Wales Transport Strategy, and the Network North Wales vision. Ambition North Wales will provide a regional co-ordinated approach to the development of an integrated strategic transport service for the region.” Ken Skates said: "Regional Transport Plans will introduce a more strategic approach to improving transport in each region of Wales, which is better aligned with land-use planning. They will also form a basis for local leaders to have a greater say in decisions about Welsh Government transport funding. "This is a big step forward for greater collaboration across our regions. To support the implementation of RTPs, we are modernising our transport grants to Local Authorities and from April 2026, we will combine several funding streams into a single Regional Transport Fund to help deliver RTPs. "Local Authorities will now be able to come together to make streamlined recommendations about how this future funding is spent, based on their agreed delivery plan for each region. This will ensure that the investment we make in transport is adapted to the needs of each region and informed by those who know the region best. It will also allow us to reduce the administrative burdens local authorities face to access funding." Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone
