Funerals delayed and mourners missing as Menai bridge closures 'add pain to bereavement'

Every time the Menai Suspension Bridge closes, lives and businesses are thrown into disarray, from hospital patients to taxi drivers. Even the recently bereaved are being caught out by the ensuing traffic chaos, according to a respected funeral celebrant.

Dyfed Wyn Roberts has more than 30 years experience conducting non-religious and traditional funeral services. In recent months, hes been forced to tweak daily routines to ensure he isnt snared by an unexpected bridge closure.

However grieving families have been tripped up since phase two works began on Telfords 200-year-old bridge, he said. Services have been delayed at Bangor Crematorium, disrupting daily schedules, and mourners have missed the chance to say their final farewells.

The stress it causes adds to what is already a painful and difficult time for bereaved families and friends, said Mr Roberts, 60. The travel disruption puts them under additional pressure.

As immediate family members travel with the hearse, they are not at risk of missing the service. But Ive been in a situation when the funeral has had to be delayed by half an hour, affecting ongoing time slots.

Weve also had situations where relations and family friends have been delayed, missing the service altogether. It really is bad and my heart goes out to those people. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox

Most closures have been caused by heavier vehicles breaching the suspension bridges 7.5-tonne weight limit, accidentally or otherwise. Each time this triggers diversions via the A55 Britannia Bridge while lengthy safety checks are carried out.

Mr Roberts, from Brynsiencyn, Anglesey, is a former Baptist minister who has also worked for international aid charity Christian Aid as its media officer. For the past four years he has been a full-time celebrant working on a freelance basis.

As the vast majority of work covers Anglesey and Gwynedd, with services typically held at Bangor Crematorium, he must cross the Strait regularly, perhaps three or four times a week. Since early March, when phase two repairs began on the suspension bridge, life has become more complicated.

Its the randomness of the bridge closures that are difficult to deal with, or even if lanes are reduced to one, he said. As you never know when its going to happen, you cant plan for the eventuality.

Every day, before setting off, I check Apple Maps and then give myself plenty of time to reach the Crematorium. Its something you have to learn to live with. But Im fortunate in living where I am: even if the suspension bridge closes, I can cross the Britannia before traffic builds up too severely.

For those travelling further, it can be more difficult. For example, it can take 45 minutes to reach the crematorium from Amlwch (in north Anglesey). Although the suspension bridge might be open when mourners set off, it could close en route, and by the time they reach the Britannia bridge there might be long queues. For them, there are no failsafe solutions.

Newly discovered structural complications have delayed the repair project, which began with an emergency closure in October 2022 and is now due for completion in spring 2027. Its been a costly process: latest available figures show that, by March 31, 2025, the bill had grown to 8.964m.

Mr Roberts believes it is time to repurpose Telfords grade I-listed bridge and focus on a new fit-for-the-future crossing.

As the suspension bridge is 200-years-old, and showing signs of age, it might be best to retire it, leaving it only for pedestrians and cyclists so it can be safeguarded for the future.

Modern lorries are getting heavier and traffic volumes continue to increase. And with everyone being encouraged to switch to electric vehicles, which are heavier, what effect will this have on the bridge?

Can we really rely on the bridge in the long term? It seems to me that a third crossing is desperately needed to secure the islands sustainability. We cant carry on like this, especially when it comes to peoples funerals.

The Welsh Government accepts that North Wales has been let down for far too long over the Menai crossings. Following an emergency meeting earlier this month, deputy transport minister Mark Hooper said: This government is acting with urgency to put solutions in place.

We are accelerating work to deliver a long-term solution and I will be updating on this work in the autumn.

The North Wales Live Whatsapp community for top stories and breaking news is live now - heres how to sign up

[Google Preferred Source Badge]Follow North Wales Live: