It is 335.7 km (208.6 mi)[1] from Wellington, at the foot of Ruapehu, in northern Manawatū-Whanganui (central North Island), between Erua and Pokaka.

[9] Two years were stipulated to complete the contract, but there were problems with foundations, weather, floods, shortage of cement in 1907 and "want of sufficient suitable men".

A water turbine drove the stone crusher and concrete mixer[1] (adverts from the period said they used 9,000 bags of Portland Cement).

[15] The last girder was placed on 4 June 1908, following which the cableway was dismantled to allow earthworks and track laying to be completed on 3 August 1908.

Further work from 1983 to 1989 added brackets on the west of the viaduct for electrification masts and strengthening for 105 ton EF Class electrics, with 18 tonne axle loads and higher tractive forces.

Piezometers monitored that the work didn't cause further weakening[19] and trains limited to 40 km/h (25 mph) to minimise movement of some trusses.

[20] The work was completed on schedule at the end of February 2007, despite having to cope with a spring, heavy rain, snow and winds.

[24] In both 2007 and 2014 efforts were made to protect the rainbow and brown trout and a family of whio nesting very close to the viaduct.

[10] From 2014 the viaduct was progressively shrink-wrapped (see time lapse video) as the leaded paint was removed[22] and the residue vacuumed to a storage site about 100 m (330 ft) south of the bridge.

During construction the camp operated as a lunch stop for passengers on the coach between the temporary railheads at Ohakune and Raurimu.