Awarded Oder bridge with Swiss carbon cables
Hangers made of carbon fiber reinforced polymer tested at Empa provide strength and sustainability (Image: Empa)
September 16, 2025 – The new railway bridge over the Oder near Küstrin, Germany, marks a world first: the first bridge for heavy rail traffic with prestressed carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) cables. The 130-meter double-track network arch with 88 carbon hangers was developed by Empa spin-off Carbo-Link and extensively tested by the Swiss research institute Empa.
According to Empa, the lightweight yet robust cables not only enable an efficient construction method but also cut CO₂ emissions by about 20 percent compared with steel. Their use saved 500 tons of steel and 1,350 tons of concrete. With its transparent, elegant design, the Oder Bridge has already won two prestigious honors: the British Bridges International Award and the German Bridge Construction Prize.
