Historic viaduct to get complex paint job

The historic 106-year-old Makatote rail viaduct in the central North Island is to get a $13-million paint job and refit over the next two years.

The 262m-long and 79m-high viaduct poses a difficult project as work won't be allowed to disturb the habitat of the vulnerable whio, or blue duck, and brown and rainbow trout, which live in the Makatote River below.

To do that, KiwiRail and contractor TBS Farnsworth will "shrink-wrap" the sections of the viaduct they are working on and a vacuum system will suck away the blasted-off lead-based paint to the ground.

About 200 tonnes of the semi-precious garnet stone will be used to remove the old paint.

Parts of the steel trusses and towers will then be replaced and strengthened before a new oxide-based paint system recoats the viaduct.

The project is expected to be completed in late 2016.

The Makatote Viaduct, 12km south of National Park, was the last and highest structure constructed on the North Island main trunk line. It is the third highest rail bridge in New Zealand and is a category 1 registered heritage structure.

Work started on it in 1906 and it took two years to complete.

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Historic viaduct to get complex paint job