Traffic staff overseeing weight restrictions on the Menai Suspension Bridge in north Wales have reported repeated abuse from frustrated motorists, including a bottle filled with urine thrown at them, prompting a warning from the Welsh Government that harassment of workers will not be tolerated. The 200-year-old crossing has been subject to intermittent repair work since October 2022, and staff have been stationed there to stop vehicles heavier than 7.5 tonnes from crossing while engineers continue structural fixes.
Beyond the urine-filled bottle, workers say they have had other objects thrown at their vehicles, been subjected to aggressive driving intended to intimidate them, endured verbal abuse, and been filmed intrusively by passing motorists. Some staff have withdrawn from duty over safety concerns tied to the escalating hostility.
Why are staff facing so much hostility from drivers?
The abuse stems largely from mounting frustration over long-running disruption to one of only two road links between Anglesey and the Welsh mainland, with repairs on the Grade I listed structure now expected to continue until 2027. Traffic management operative Gary Roberts, who has experienced the abuse directly, described the situation as "very stressful" and said drivers have wound down their windows to shout at staff and driven aggressively to frighten them.
We have seen a few water bottles thrown, even one with urine.
When they shout at us we want them to know, we are just the guys on the front line. We don't make the decisions, that's done by higher up people, but we are the ones getting all the flack.
Roberts pushed back against suggestions that staff are not working while stationed at the bridge, pointing out that they use an app on their phones to assess vehicle weights as part of their duties.
People have said we are just sitting in deck chairs looking at our phones, but we have an app and we use phones, when we are assessing the weights of vehicles. It is just part of our job.
We just want people to realise, we are just ordinary, working class people. We are just here doing our jobs, and at the end of the day, we are just trying to keep people safe.
What has the Welsh Government said in response?
Deputy transport minister Mark Hooper condemned the behaviour and said staff deserved protection while carrying out their duties safely.
No place for harassment and bullying.
Hooper said workers were "just doing their jobs, trying to keep people safe" and urged frustrated bridge users to "take a breath" rather than direct their anger at operatives on the ground. He confirmed he had met with local politicians and leaders, including members of Anglesey council, to discuss ways of resolving broader issues affecting the crossing, and said a full statement would be delivered to the Senedd in the autumn.
Among the options under consideration, according to Hooper, are stopping heavy vehicles further from the bridge itself, additional signage including on the A55, and fitting wind deflectors to the nearby Britannia Bridge to reduce weather-related closures and restrictions. He said the Welsh Government regarded the problems facing residents and visitors as "very important matters that were being taken seriously" and wanted both island crossings operating as effectively as possible. Meetings had also been held with North Wales Police specifically about the recent abuse directed at staff, Hooper said.
A spokesperson for North Wales Police said the force was working closely with partner agencies and would "respond proportionately to any reports of anti-social behaviour, or abuse, against traffic officers".
Has this happened before at the bridge?
This is not the first time abuse has disrupted operations at the crossing. According to an earlier report on the bridge's repair works, staff previously paused operations after a confrontation, with officials warning at the time that continued abuse or non-compliance could force the bridge to close altogether. Separately, coverage of a related closure detailed how Pont y Borth was temporarily shut after traffic staff were abused, with Highways officials cautioning that further incidents could trigger another shutdown.
Those earlier warnings appear to have been borne out. Traffic management on the bridge was temporarily suspended on 27 July 2026 following an alleged confrontation, with the operating company warning that further harassment could lead to additional closures, according to Nation.Cymru. UK Highways A55 Ltd has said abuse of its operatives has become a "common feature" during the current phase of maintenance work and that harassment will now be reported directly to North Wales Police, according to a report by a national broadcaster. One account described the decision to temporarily stand workers down as a response to abuse that had become "commonplace", according to an independent Welsh affairs newsletter.
What is the background to the repair works?
Jon Bailey, project director for Spencer Bridge Engineering, said managing the abuse had at times been "very difficult", particularly for his staff.
We just try to ignore it as much as possible, and not engage with it.
Repair work on the Grade I listed bridge began in October 2022 after defects were discovered in the hangers that lift the suspension chains and roadway. Fixing the hangers took until late 2024, but further structural problems were subsequently uncovered, extending the project timeline. Bailey said the age of the structure made further surprises possible.
We are dealing with a 200-year-old bridge, so you never know what you might encounter.
As long as we don't find any new issues as we go along, we will likely be looking at going into the next year, but we can't guarantee any specific (end) date as yet.
The bridge previously reopened to limited traffic under a 3-tonne restriction with single-flow management following earlier bolt repairs, according to the Welsh Government's bridge update page. A more permanent fix for the crossbeam issue was installed in February 2026, according to the official Pont Menai Bridge project site, and the current phase of works also includes underdeck painting, corbel repairs and lighting upgrades, per Welsh Government project documentation.
What happens next?
The Welsh Government has said the bridge is being considered for a partial reopening in the coming days, potentially operating between 07:00 and 19:00 with full overnight closures, though enforcement details and a confirmed timescale have not yet been finalised, according to the Welsh Government's update. The wider phase of structural repairs is scheduled to be completed by spring 2027, with the 7.5 tonne weight limit remaining in place until then, according to the project's official website.
- Workers have reported bottles thrown at them, including one containing urine, alongside aggressive driving and intrusive filming.
- Traffic management was briefly suspended on 27 July 2026 after an alleged confrontation with a member of the public.
- Repairs have been ongoing since October 2022, with the current phase expected to finish by spring 2027.
- The Welsh Government is weighing a partial reopening with restricted daytime hours and overnight closures.
- North Wales Police say they will respond proportionately to reports of abuse against traffic officers.
