Carry power lines across Strait on a new third crossing
FRESH talks over a third Menai Strait crossing have begun, a senior Welsh Government minister has revealed.
The National Grid is planning to build an underwater tunnel to connect electricity cables from the proposed new Wylfa Newydd nuclear power plant.
The structure, costing in the region of £100m to build, will be sunk under the seabed between Anglesey and Gwynedd.
But the Welsh Government has revealed it would prefer a shared crossing capable of carrying cars and other vehicles as well as cables across the Strait.
On the BBC Wales Report, cabinet secretary for economy and transport Ken Skates said: “The Menai Strait is a priority project for us.
“What we’re doing at the moment is negotiating with the National Grid over the potential to channel the cables for Wylfa Newydd through a shared crossing,
“We’ve stated our ambition to have that shared crossing that would vastly reduce the taxpayers’ contribution.”
The National Grid has previously rebuffed previous calls for a shared crossing, saying that the project timelines “did not match.”
Under the firm’s current plans, the 4km underground tunnel would carry cables to avoid using pylons at the popular beauty spot.
According to the Grid, it would to take around five years to build and bury the tunnel 40 metres under the seabed.
But if discussions with the Government prove fruitful, the tunnel idea could be replaced by the cables instead being incorporated into a new bridge alongside the existing Britannia Bridge. Welcoming Mr Skates’ comments, Rhun ap Iorwerth AM said: “This is something I have been discussing with the Grid since 2013 and something I have been pushing recently with the Government – both publicly in the Senedd and in private.
“I’m pleased that the matter is seriously on the agenda by now and that the Government sees sense in trying to make both developments happen together. “What’s important now is making sure that it does happen. Spending a hundred million on a tunnel and over £100m later on a new bridge would be a scandalous waste of public money when two birds could be killed with one stone.”
Albert Owen MP added: “The idea of combining a third crossing with the power lines from the island is a strong one.
“I support the idea as its win-win and will continue to have dialogue with the UK and Welsh ministers as well as National Grid, the county council and Horizon.
“Timing is key to this moving forward.”