禹(yu)跡(ji)橋(qiao)南(nan)北走向,單孔石(shi)拱(gong)結(jie)構,拱(gong)券以(yi)縱聯分節并列法砌筑。橋(qiao)面(mian)(mian)寬4.30米(mi)(mi),橋(qiao)全長43.50米(mi)(mi),南(nan)堍寬6.20米(mi)(mi),北堍分設(she)東西兩向石(shi)級踏跺。跨徑10.45米(mi)(mi),矢高(gao)5.56米(mi)(mi)。禹(yu)跡(ji)橋(qiao)頂面(mian)(mian)石(shi)和(he)拱(gong)券內龍門石(shi)分別(bie)雕刻(ke)"輪回(hui)"、"云(yun)龍"圖(tu)案(an),東西兩向各刻(ke)對聯一副(fu),東面(mian)(mian)橋(qiao)聯:"善(shan)政惟因,不易大名仍禹(yu)跡(ji);隆時特起,重恢古制值堯巡(xun)",西面(mian)(mian)橋(qiao)聯:"市近湖(hu)漘, 驕肩(jian)無俟(si)臨流喚;地當浙委 , 繡(xiu)壤應多題柱才"。橋(qiao)面(mian)(mian)石(shi)級刻(ke)有(you)各類吉祥圖(tu)案(an)。禹(yu)跡(ji)橋(qiao)保存較好(hao),橋(qiao)身局部長有(you)雜草。
禹跡(ji)橋頂(ding)面(mian)石(shi)和(he)拱券內龍(long)門石(shi)分別雕刻“輪(lun)回”、“云龍(long)”圖(tu)案(an),東(dong)(dong)西兩向各刻對聯一副,東(dong)(dong)面(mian)橋聯:“善政惟(wei)因,不易大名仍禹跡(ji);隆時(shi)特起,重(zhong)恢古制值堯(yao)巡”,西面(mian)橋聯:“市近(jin)湖漘(chun), 驕肩無俟臨流喚;地當浙(zhe)委 , 繡壤應多題柱(zhu)才”。橋面(mian)石(shi)級刻有各類吉祥圖(tu)案(an)。不遠處有慈云古塔,拱形落虹,塔影橫(heng)斜,構成(cheng)震澤水鄉特有景觀。
1986年(nian)7月1日,禹跡橋被市政(zheng)府公布為第(di)二批吳江市文(wen)物保護單(dan)(dan)位(wei),由于(yu)行政(zheng)區劃變(bian)更,2012年(nian)9月調整為蘇州市文(wen)物保護單(dan)(dan)位(wei)。
關(guan)于禹跡橋(qiao)(qiao), 當(dang)地(di)民(min)(min)(min)間有一則動(dong)人的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)傳(chuan)說(shuo):當(dang)地(di)官(guan)員在著(zhu)(zhu)手重建(jian)禹跡橋(qiao)(qiao)時,特(te)請了善刻碑文的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)江南名匠(jiang)張石(shi)匠(jiang)雕琢石(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao)東西兩面的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)對聯(lian)。經過一年緊(jin)張施工,橋(qiao)(qiao)雖然建(jian)成了,但橋(qiao)(qiao)旁由頁塘河(he)兩側的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)駁岸(an)卻尚(shang)未修復。此時, 乾(qian)隆(long)出巡的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)船(chuan)隊已離縣(xian)境不(bu)遠(yuan)。急中生智,地(di)方(fang)官(guan)員督(du)令軍民(min)(min)(min)用沙(sha)袋疊成駁岸(an)。當(dang)夜乾(qian)隆(long)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)龍舟沿著(zhu)(zhu)由頁塘河(he)向(xiang)震澤緩(huan)緩(huan)駛(shi)來。鎮上的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)居(ju)民(min)(min)(min)閉戶關(guan)窗(chuang),不(bu)敢偷窺。地(di)方(fang)官(guan)員在橋(qiao)(qiao)畔設香案跪迎圣(sheng)駕。
當(dang)年震(zhen)澤鎮(zhen)北的(de)(de)(de)(de)河(he)(he)道 ( 俗(su)名新(xin)開(kai)(kai)河(he)(he) ) 尚(shang)未開(kai)(kai)鑿,乾(qian)(qian)(qian)隆(long)(long)由頔塘(tang)河(he)(he)去(qu)浙江,必穿(chuan)鎮(zhen)而過。龍(long)(long)舟臨(lin)近震(zhen)澤,乾(qian)(qian)(qian)隆(long)(long)坐在船首的(de)(de)(de)(de)御(yu)座(zuo)上(shang)觀看(kan)(kan)兩(liang)岸(an)風光。此(ci)時,皓(hao)月(yue)當(dang)空,拱橋(qiao)塔影,遙望(wang)震(zhen)澤景色(se)極為(wei)秀麗。乾(qian)(qian)(qian)隆(long)(long)龍(long)(long)顏大悅,指著慈(ci)云(yun)寺塔垂問伴(ban)駕官員(yuan):“此(ci)塔何名? ”伴(ban)駕官員(yuan)趕(gan)忙向皇帝(di)啟奏(zou)了(le)古塔的(de)(de)(de)(de)來龍(long)(long)去(qu)脈:孫尚(shang)香和慈(ci)云(yun)公主的(de)(de)(de)(de)凄婉故事,使乾(qian)(qian)(qian)隆(long)(long)聽得入迷,喜愛文墨的(de)(de)(de)(de)皇帝(di)未及觀賞(shang)禹跡(ji)橋(qiao)對(dui)聯,龍(long)(long)舟已是駛過橋(qiao)洞,進入鎮(zhen)區河(he)(he)道了(le)。第(di)二天, 乾(qian)(qian)(qian)隆(long)(long)帝(di)夜游震(zhen)澤的(de)(de)(de)(de)消息,在鎮(zhen)上(shang)茶館(guan)酒樓中添枝加葉地(di)傳(chuan)開(kai)(kai)了(le)。張石匠聽說乾(qian)(qian)(qian)隆(long)(long)皇帝(di)對(dui)他精雕細刻的(de)(de)(de)(de)橋(qiao)聯看(kan)(kan)都沒(mei)有看(kan)(kan)上(shang)一(yi)眼,竟(jing)然氣(qi)得大病一(yi)場。這(zhe)則動人(ren)故事至(zhi)今還為(wei)當(dang)地(di)百姓(xing)津(jin)津(jin)樂道,廣為(wei)流傳(chuan)。
禹跡(ji)橋(qiao)聯, 撰寫的確是氣勢恢宏, 刻(ke)工精良(liang), 雖(sui)歷(li)經了數百年風雨(yu)剝(bo)蝕,字(zi)跡(ji)依然剔透(tou)清晰。更(geng)珍貴的是, 在這兩副對聯中,隱藏(zang)著極為豐(feng)富的文史(shi)信(xin)息和史(shi)料價值(zhi)。
善政惟因,不易大名仍禹跡;
隆時特(te)起,重恢(hui)古制值堯巡。
這是禹(yu)跡橋(qiao)東(dong)面的(de)聯語(yu)。上(shang)聯是說,康熙、雍正、乾隆(long)三(san)朝政治清明(ming), 盛世相承(cheng), 功比大(da)禹(yu), 因(yin)此此番重建時(shi)橋(qiao)名不改了(le), 仍為“禹(yu)跡橋(qiao)”。堯(yao)、舜、禹(yu)是我國(guo)圣君的(de)典范。從上(shang)聯中可以看(kan)出, 康熙年間初建此橋(qiao)時(shi), 命(ming)名“禹(yu)跡”, 顯然亦(yi)有歌頌(song)康熙政績之意(yi)。下聯意(yi)思是: 當今尤(you)為興盛,重建古橋(qiao)時(shi), 又(you)恰逢“堯(yao)帝”出巡(xun)。“隆(long)時(shi)”含意(yi)兩層(ceng):一為興盛,二為乾隆(long)年號。此處(chu)干脆把乾隆(long)比作了(le)“堯(yao) ”。此聯正對乾隆(long)東(dong)來水道,極盡(jin)歌功頌(song)德,是一副石刻(ke)的(de)迎駕“大(da)紅標語(yu)”。