The completion of the Matahorua Viaduct at Matahorua in 1928 was a major milestone in the history of the Napier-Gisborne Railway, valued for its regional historical and social significance. The Public Works Department (PWD) faced numerous engineering difficulties to complete the railway, and the Matahorua Gorge, with its challenging landscape and geology, presented a notable obstacle. The resulting impressive steel viaduct, visually accessible from the region's main road, has also been historically appreciated for its aesthetic value. A railway connecting Napier, Wairoa, and onward to Gisborne was proposed in the early 20th century and constructed between 1911 and 1942. Along with the Waikoau Viaduct, the Matahorua Viaduct formed part of the Putorino section, built between 1925 and 1930. In 1940, the railway's history was described as 'an epic'