It was designed by Robert Whitworth, one of John Smeaton's supervising engineers on the Forth and Clyde Canal project.^[1] The contractors were William Gibb (founder of the engineering dynasty that led to Sir Alexander Gibb & Partners) and John Muir, who also built the nearby Maryhill locks.^[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.^[4] The entire project cost £8,509, exceeding the original estimated cost of £6,200.^[2]

It was protected as a category A listed building in 1989.^[5]

It is 445 feet (136 metres) long, with four arches of 50-foot (15 m) span, and 62 feet (19 m) high above the surface of the river.^[3] According to measurements by John Rennie as the canal was nearing completion, there was around 3 feet (0.9 m) of puddle clay at the bottom of the canal.^[3] The aqueduct was designed to carry a depth of 8 feet (2.4 m) of water.^[6]

The piers are buttressed in such a way as to resemble cutwaters, but only one pier sits in the river.^[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.^[7][8] This design feature is also present on the Luggie Aqueduct at Kirkintilloch, which opened in 1773.^[9]

The aqueduct is built from rustic masonry at the lower levels and polished ashlar above.^[3] Underneath it is the Kelvin Walkway, which runs through an area of green space around the river.^[2][8]

• List of canal aqueducts in Great Britain

55°53′32″N 4°18′06″W / 55.892352°N 4.301727°W / 55.892352; -4.301727