The viaduct forms the eastern boundary of Tŷ Mawr Country Park and is around a mile downstream of Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.

[1][2][10] It was completed on 14 August 1848, with the ceremony of keying the viaduct's last stone performed by William Ormsby Gore,[3][13] and opened for service in October 1848.

[1][2][10][7] The entire railway line was initiated by Robertson, who had received training from George Stephenson, and recognised that the existing canal network was not meeting the material transport needs between Wrexham and Chester.

[5][6][14] The viaduct is built of coursed squared Cefn sandstone from Chatham's Quarry,[4][7] with the upper arched stage of brick faced with stone.

[15] It is listed as a Grade II* building because of the structure's "highly impressive and architecturally elegant example of mid 19th century railway engineering".

The usual journey time between Llangollen Junction and Black Park was nine minutes, and Richards was aware of the approaching Oxley train.