It was designed by Robert Whitworth, one of John Smeaton's supervising engineers on the Forth and Clyde Canal project.

[1] A foundation stone was laid on 16 June 1787 by Archibald Spiers, the chairman of the canal committee.

[2] When opened in 1790 it was Britain's largest aqueduct,[3] and onlookers were impressed at the sight of sailing boats crossing above them.

[2] The sides of the aqueduct are arched in order to transfer the outward pressure of the water onto the buttresses, an effect which can clearly be seen from above.

[3] Underneath it is the Kelvin Walkway, which runs through an area of green space around the river.