Built by the North Eastern Railway as part of the new main line to Durham from Tursdale Junction from where the old main line continued north via Leamside. It crosses the Wear east to west before the railway again turns north and it stands high above the river with farmland on the west bank.
The engineer was Thomas Harrison and the bridge is 75 feet in height, 230 yards in length and the arches have a span of 60 feet. The piers are built of stone. The viaduct remains part of the East Coast Main Line.