The Menai Suspension Bridge has been closed for the second time in a week after an “overweight vehicle” crossed the historic structure, triggering immediate safety concerns and forcing an urgent inspection.

Traffic Wales confirmed the closure in an early morning update on X.

The incident has caused significant disruption across Anglesey and mainland Gwynedd, with traffic quickly backing up as one of the region’s key crossings was taken out of action once again.

Compounding the chaos, a nearby route was also shut after a vehicle fire. The B5420 at Penymynydd, near Fferm Sarn Fraint, was closed by highways teams, adding further pressure to already heavily congested diversion routes.

With the Menai Bridge unavailable, drivers have been urged to follow official diversions via the A5025 from Four Crosses to Pentraeth, then the B5109 through to Llangefni. However, alternative roads have struggled to cope with the sudden surge in traffic.

Elsewhere, congestion has built on the A487 near Y Felinheli following a separate collision. According to the latest update from traffic monitoring service Inrix at 9.34am, the northbound A487 is partially blocked with queueing traffic near the A4087 roundabout. The situation has been worsened by motorists diverting away from the bridge closure.

Local commuters described “gridlock conditions” across parts of the network, with delays spreading far beyond the immediate incident areas as drivers attempted to find alternative routes.

The Menai Suspension Bridge is a critical transport link between Anglesey and the mainland, and repeated closures in such a short period have raised fresh concerns about traffic management, enforcement of weight restrictions, and the resilience of diversion routes during peak disruption.

Authorities are expected to carry out a full structural inspection before reopening the bridge, but no estimated timeframe has yet been given.

For now, motorists are being advised to avoid the area entirely where possible, expect long delays, and allow significantly more time for journeys across north-west Wales.