Bridge of Park
Bridge of Park | |||
Location Map ( geo) | |||
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From: | Glenluce | ||
To: | Stranraer | ||
Location | |||
Glenluce | |||
County | |||
Wigtownshire | |||
Highway Authority | |||
Dumfries and Galloway • Transport Scotland | |||
Opening Date | |||
Late C18th, 1973 | |||
Additional Information | |||
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On road(s) | |||
A75 | |||
Crossings related to the A75 | |||
Crossings related to the Solway Coast Heritage Trail | |||
Crossings related to the E18 | |||
There are three bridges over the Water of Luce at the western end of Genluce village. The largest is the massive railway viaduct, which dwarfs the old road bridge below, while the new A75 road bridge stands a little downstream.
The Old Bridge
The old bridge carried the A75 until 1973 when the new bridge was built. It dates back over 200 years, with some uncertainty as to the original construction date, some records suggest late 18th Century, while other put it back to the 16th Century. The original bridge consists of two stone arches spanning the river, with the central pier in the river bed. However, if you go to the upstream side of the bridge, there is a problem, because there is only one arch. The explanation is found underneath, where it is clear that the old bridge was very narrow and so sometime in the 1920s or 1930s the bridge was substantially widened, with a single arch structure added to the upstream side.
To add further interest, the old road that crossed the bridge passed under the viaduct at both ends, as it negotiated the horseshoe bend that took it over the bridge. This obviously made the road rather slow to negotiate, and so it is little wonder that the new road was built!
The New Bridge
Providing the A75 with a straight route, bypassing the village of Glenluce, the new bridge is rather dull in comparison with its near neighbours. It is a single span concrete structure providing a wide two-way crossing, albeit with the traffic lanes narrowing a little on the eastern bank to accommodate the central turning lane for the nearby junctions.
Bridge of Park | ||
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