High Bridge of Tarff

This article is about the High Bridge of Tarff over the River Tarff on the former A75.
For other bridges called High Bridge, see High Bridge.
For the Low Bridge of Tarff over the same river further downstream, see Low Bridge of Tarff.

The Old Bridge of Tarff

The High Bridge of Tarff used to carry the A75 over the River Tarff in the village of Tarff, but was bypassed in c1975 as part of the Twynholm Bypass. There are actually two bridges close together here, both single arch stone bridges. The former A75 bridge was built in 1832 to replace the Old Bridge of Tarff which stands a short distance downstream and was built as part of the military road between Dumfries and Stranraer in the 1750s or 60s. The older bridge is a typical plain stone bridge with peaked parapets and a notable hump in the roadway over the arch. The old bridge appears to now be private, and is turfed. The newer bridge is wider and flatter with narrow pavements on either side. The parapets are built of ashlar sandstone with copings on top, the same stone being used to face the remainder of the structure. The parapets curve away notable beyond the abutments to end in small square piers, but this is the main decoration.

Bypass Bridge

The Tarff bypass opened as part of the Twynholm Bypass in 1975 and saw the A75 re-routed out of the village to cross the river further down stream. The new bridge is a fairly ordinary single span concrete structure with pavements to either side of the wide S2 carriageway. Metal railings serve as parapets.

Junction

Before the bypass opened, the A762 met the A75 immediately to the south east of the old High Bridge. This junction survives, and is still a simple T junction, but the old A762 alignment is now a private dead end serving a couple of properties. The replacement junction on the bypass is fully described at Tarff Bridge Junction.