歷史
據《清乾(qian)隆光山縣志》記載(zai),明萬歷(li)庚(geng)申年(nian)(1620年(nian))由潑陂河(he)境(jing)內紳士、鄉耆并(bing)殷實好施(shi)者(zhe),爭相(xiang)捐(juan)資相(xiang)助(zhu),始建成“永濟橋(qiao)”。后此(ci)橋(qiao)在歷(li)次整修中,有眾多(duo)好心行善者(zhe)傾囊獻款,因募捐(juan)款多(duo),人(ren)們又(you)稱此(ci)橋(qiao)為(wei)“萬金(jin)橋(qiao)”。
結構
永濟橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)是(shi)河南(nan)省最長的(de)(de)古代(dai)石(shi)(shi)拱(gong)(gong)(gong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)。南(nan)北長101米,東西寬(kuan)7米,橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)下由9個(ge)拱(gong)(gong)(gong)形(xing)孔(kong)聯(lian)綴而成,每(mei)個(ge)拱(gong)(gong)(gong)形(xing)孔(kong)長度(du)不(bu)一,自6至(zhi)12米不(bu)等,寬(kuan)度(du)和(he)(he)高(gao)(gao)(gao)度(du)由中(zhong)間(jian)孔(kong)向(xiang)兩邊遞減,中(zhong)間(jian)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)孔(kong)是(shi)高(gao)(gao)(gao)大的(de)(de)陡拱(gong)(gong)(gong),如駝峰突起,逐(zhu)漸向(xiang)兩邊過渡為(wei)弓形(xing)孔(kong),宛如彎(wan)月。這樣(yang)的(de)(de)造(zao)型顯示(shi)了建(jian)筑力(li)學和(he)(he)美(mei)學的(de)(de)有(you)(you)(you)機(ji)契合。由于(yu)(yu)中(zhong)間(jian)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)孔(kong)高(gao)(gao)(gao)大,整座(zuo)(zuo)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)呈八字型。這種(zhong)建(jian)筑在古代(dai)既能(neng)使(shi)樓船(chuan)順(shun)利(li)通過,又可以(yi)迅(xun)速(su)排除橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)面(mian)雨水,防止橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)面(mian)積(ji)水,向(xiang)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)下滲漏腐蝕(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)梁結構。每(mei)一橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)墩都(dou)“肩挑”兩拱(gong)(gong)(gong),拱(gong)(gong)(gong)相連,構成整體(ti),共同承(cheng)受著整座(zuo)(zuo)石(shi)(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)的(de)(de)重量。由于(yu)(yu)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)身長、跨度(du)大、橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)面(mian)較寬(kuan),加之(zhi)全部由花崗石(shi)(shi)構成,使(shi)得大橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)形(xing)成一種(zhong)宏偉、壯觀的(de)(de)氣勢。橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)墩的(de)(de)東側,建(jian)有(you)(you)(you)高(gao)(gao)(gao)大的(de)(de)分(fen)水嶺,可分(fen)開洪水穿(chuan)孔(kong)而瀉,這是(shi)減少山洪沖擊,保護長橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)的(de)(de)一項科(ke)學措施。橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)面(mian)兩側建(jian)有(you)(you)(you)欄(lan)桿,兩邊為(wei)人行道,中(zhong)間(jian)為(wei)車道。據記載過去兩端(duan)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)堍有(you)(you)(you)華表,兩旁有(you)(you)(you)石(shi)(shi)欄(lan)石(shi)(shi)柱。每(mei)個(ge)柱頭都(dou)雕(diao)(diao)刻(ke)著不(bu)同姿態的(de)(de)獅子,橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)身兩邊雕(diao)(diao)刻(ke)有(you)(you)(you)各種(zhong)圖案(an)紋飾,使(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)的(de)(de)造(zao)型從整體(ti)結構至(zhi)局部裝(zhuang)飾都(dou)達到了完美(mei)的(de)(de)境地。 可惜自明清(qing)以(yi)來(lai),該橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)幾毀幾建(jian),石(shi)(shi)欄(lan)石(shi)(shi)柱早已不(bu)存在,被換(huan)成水泥澆注的(de)(de)。歷次維修的(de)(de)痕跡依稀可辨。
永濟(ji)橋是(shi)光(guang)山(shan)縣最長(chang)最大的(de)古代聯(lian)拱石橋,也是(shi)河南省(sheng)(sheng)最長(chang)最大的(de)古代聯(lian)拱石橋。它是(shi)光(guang)山(shan)勞動人(ren)民(min)的(de)智慧的(de)結晶。它對(dui)于了解我國明代建筑藝術,有著重要(yao)的(de)價值(zhi)。一九八0年(nian)由光(guang)山(shan)縣人(ren)民(min)政(zheng)府公布為縣級文物保(bao)護單位(wei),二000年(nian)九月,河南省(sheng)(sheng)人(ren)民(min)政(zheng)府正式批準永濟(ji)橋為省(sheng)(sheng)級文物保(bao)護單位(wei)。