The Old Bridge was until 1869 the only bridge over the Main. Frankfurt already had 57,000 inhabitants at that time and the old bridge was no longer enough. The city of Frankfurt refused to build another bridge because of the construction costs.
Thus, the Frankfurt residents and traders resorted to self-help. Share certificates were sold with their proceeds the bridge was built. When finished, everyone who wanted to cross the bridge had to pay for a cruiser. After 27 years, the bridge had earned its production costs, the shareholders were paid out with a bonus of 5% and the city of Frankfurt got the bridge on 01.01.1886 assigned.
After ever larger ships drove on the Main and 1910 a coal transporter stuck to the lower edge of the bridge 1912 was a new, built higher.
When the fleeing Wehrmacht had blown up the Ironbridge and all other main bridges in the last days of the war, it was rebuilt in 1946 and raised again in 1969 by 40 cm.
The Greek inscription on the northern bridge arrow reads: "I drive over the wine-red sea to people of other languages."