Maintenance work is taking place overnight

Two hour delays were reported on the Britannia Bridge on Thursday night when two lorries broke down.

The work, including resurfacing, has seen a closure of the westbound lane of the two-lane A55 overnight this week.

The Welsh Assembly Government said the work was "essential" and would be completed within the next two weeks.

The eastbound carriageway will have similar restrictions over the weekend.

On Thursday night, traffic was being diverted onto the Menai suspension bridge but an assembly government spokesperson said that following the lorry breakdowns the diversion route had been amended.

I am only half way through a journey that normally takes 20-30 minutes Alun Hughes

"Now traffic will not be diverted over Menai suspension bridge," said the spokesperson.

"Instead it will travel along A487 and A4087 between junctions nine and 10 - this means that the scope of works has had to be reduced in the short term."

Travellers reported delays of up to two hours on Thursday night, while the rest of the week an extra hour has been added to journeys.

On Thursday night, Jamie Jones, from Menai Bridge, abandoned his car and ran over the bridge.

"We have been stuck in the car for three quarters of an hour, we decided to ditch the car and run over the bridge. We will have to go back for it in the morning," said.

"We tried all the shortcuts we know - it is a waste of time.

"People aren't too chuffed about it. People have been telling me it has taken them up to two hours to get from one end of Bangor into town."

Alun Hughes said he was one of many stuck in the traffic for an hour.

"I am only half way through a journey that normally takes 20-30 minutes," he said.

"There's nobody here telling us what's happening - I've only heard by word of mouth they are doing the bridge again."

'Essential works'

Another driver, who had just visited Theatr Gwynedd, said he had been stuck for more than an hour.

"We only live in Llanfairpwll and we thought it would be a 10-minute journey home - we have got someone looking after the children and everything," he said.

The Britannia bridge was built by engineer Robert Stephenson in 1850 but reconstructed after a fire in 1970.

As well as the dual carriageway A55 it carries rail services.

The bridge already faces congestion when its two lanes are open at peak times.

The assembly government spokesperson added that UK Highways, who are carrying out the work, were making every effort to minimise disruption.

"These essential works must be undertaken before the summer embargo, and are expected to be completed within the next two weeks," said the spokesperson.