The Kabelsteg is an important protected monument today , but it was originally a by-product of the reconstruction work on the Muffatwerk power station in 1898. At first glance, it might seem like a simple pedestrian bridge, but its purpose extends beyond carrying people across the river. Hidden beneath its slabs are cables that transmitted energy from the Muffatwerk power station across the Isar to the city center. The bridge itself served as a conduit for these cables. This electricity was essential for powering the street lamps and later also supplied energy for the city´s trams.
The construction of the 37.50-meter-long and 4-meter-wide two-basket-handle arch bridge, made of reinforced concrete, was based on a design by Adolf Schwiening and Aquilin Altmann from the City Planning Authority (Stadtbauamt). Originally, the bridge was clad with shell-bearing limestone, which was later removed during renovation work. The opening between the two arches reduces weight and improves flood resistance by allowing water to flow through.
The construction was carried out by the Wayss & Freytag company, which was founded in 1875 by Conrad Freytag and later joined by Gustav Adolf Wayss. In 1884, Conrad Freytag acquired a patent for reinforced concrete developed by Joseph Monier (22.12.1880), marking the beginning of a new era for reinforced concrete in Germany. The company undertook numerous projects during this time and remains active today. Its work can be found all over the world, including the first skyscraper in Buenos Aires – Argentina (Caja Internacional Mutua de Pensiones), and the Imperial Hotel in Karlovy Vary.
The Kabelsteg was the second reinforced concrete bridge built in Munich, following the Ludwig-Ferdinand-Brücke over the Nymphenburg Canal, which was the first.
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