Plans for Bendigeidfran bridge over the Menai ‘under consideration’ by designers

Plans for a giant statue of the mythological giant Bendigeidfran that would hold aloft the soon-to-be-built 3rd Menai crossing are being considered by planners.

Responding to a petition for the Bendigeidfran bridge, the Minister for Economy and Transport Ken Skates said that it would be amongst plans considered by the designers.

He has passed on the details of the engineer who first suggested the design, Benji Poulton from Bangor, to the design team.

As the proposal will now be assessed as part of the design work for the bridge, he also decided to close the petition.

“Consultants AECOM and Knight Architects are currently assessing and developing concepts of bridge designs which best fit within the Menai bridge landscape and consultations on these options with the Design Commissioner for Wales is ongoing,” Ken Skates said.

“The appropriateness of incorporating sculptures into bridges, such as Mr. Poulton’s Pont Bendigeidfran, forms part of this assessment.”

Benji Poulton said that the development was “great news”.

Giant Bendigeidfran, famous for his motto ‘A fo ben bid bont’ (he who is a leader should be a bridge), went to war with Ireland and lay over the River Shannon so that his troops could cross.