永通(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)是通(tong)(tong)惠(hui)(hui)河(he)上(shang)的重(zhong)(zhong)要橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)梁,史稱(cheng)(cheng)它(ta)是“陸(lu)運京(jing)(jing)儲(chu)之(zhi)通(tong)(tong)道(dao)”。永通(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)是北(bei)京(jing)(jing)四大名(ming)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)之(zhi)一(yi)。坐落在(zai)古老的通(tong)(tong)惠(hui)(hui)河(he)上(shang),因距通(tong)(tong)縣城西八里(li)(li)(li),故俗稱(cheng)(cheng)“八里(li)(li)(li)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)”或“八里(li)(li)(li)莊橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)”,而其(qi)原名(ming)卻鮮為人知了(le)(le)。河(he)北(bei)趙縣也有(you)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)名(ming)永通(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)。永通(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)正是在(zai)這樣一(yi)條十(shi)分(fen)重(zhong)(zhong)要和著名(ming)的漕河(he)上(shang)建(jian)(jian)造的一(yi)座大型石(shi)拱(gong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)。史稱(cheng)(cheng)它(ta)是“陸(lu)運京(jing)(jing)儲(chu)之(zhi)通(tong)(tong)道(dao)”。石(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)的前身是座木(mu)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),因通(tong)(tong)惠(hui)(hui)河(he)坡度較大、河(he)水(shui)湍急。常將這里(li)(li)(li)原建(jian)(jian)的木(mu)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)沖毀,影響(xiang)交通(tong)(tong),因此(ci)有(you)內宮太(tai)監李(li)德奏(zou)于明英(ying)宗,建(jian)(jian)議于此(ci)地(di)建(jian)(jian)石(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),英(ying)宗準(zhun)奏(zou),正統十(shi)一(yi)年十(shi)二月(yue)石(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)竣(jun)工,英(ying)宗賜名(ming)“永通(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)”。石(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)的建(jian)(jian)成,不僅解(jie)決了(le)(le)交通(tong)(tong),控制了(le)(le)洪水(shui),還為古老的通(tong)(tong)惠(hui)(hui)河(he)增加了(le)(le)一(yi)個美麗壯(zhuang)觀(guan)的景點。所謂“長橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)映月(yue)”正是通(tong)(tong)州八景之(zhi)一(yi)。
八里橋(qiao)(qiao)的(de)(de)造(zao)型極為(wei)特(te)(te)殊(shu)。中孔(kong)特(te)(te)高(gao),高(gao)達八點(dian)(dian)五(wu)米(mi),寬六點(dian)(dian)七(qi)米(mi),兩次孔(kong)僅高(gao)三點(dian)(dian)五(wu)米(mi),相(xiang)(xiang)差懸殊(shu)。這種構造(zao)是專(zhuan)為(wei)漕運的(de)(de)需要設計的(de)(de)。通(tong)惠河(he)運糧船(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)多為(wei)帆船(chuan)(chuan)(chuan),如建(jian)造(zao)普通(tong)形式拱橋(qiao)(qiao),勢必阻礙漕船(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)的(de)(de)航行,為(wei)此古(gu)代工匠將橋(qiao)(qiao)的(de)(de)中孔(kong)建(jian)造(zao)得相(xiang)(xiang)當(dang)高(gao)聳,漕船(chuan)(chuan)(chuan)可直(zhi)出(chu)直(zhi)入(ru),圓滿(man)地解(jie)決了這一難題。所謂“八里橋(qiao)(qiao)不落桅”正是指(zhi)此。
八(ba)里(li)橋地處交通要沖,戰(zhan)略上是兵家必爭之(zhi)地。歷史上這里(li)曾進行過(guo)兩次大規(gui)模的(de)中外戰(zhan)爭。第一次為咸豐十(shi)年(nian)(1860),中國官(guan)軍與英法侵略軍交戰(zhan)。第二(er)次為光緒(xu)二(er)十(shi)六年(nian)(1900),義和(he)團與八(ba)國聯軍在此展開了激烈(lie)戰(zhan)斗。永(yong)通橋不僅具(ju)有十(shi)分珍貴的(de)歷史、科學和(he)藝術價值,而且還是近代史上的(de)重要紀念建筑。
通(tong)(tong)惠河是(shi)(shi)元至元二(er)十七(1290)春由都水(shui)(shui)監郭守(shou)敬主持開鑿的(de)一(yi)條重要人工河道。此河“上自(zi)昌平白浮村引(yin)神山泉,西折南(nan)(nan)(nan)轉,過雙塔榆河、一(yi)畝、玉泉清水(shui)(shui),至西水(shui)(shui)門(men)入都城,南(nan)(nan)(nan)匯為積水(shui)(shui)潭(tan),東(dong)南(nan)(nan)(nan)出(chu)文明門(men),東(dong)至通(tong)(tong)州高麗莊(zhuang)入白河。總長一(yi)百六(liu)十四里一(yi)百四步”。北(bei)京(jing)地處北(bei)方,物(wu)資較為貧乏(fa),眾(zhong)多(duo)物(wu)資多(duo)從南(nan)(nan)(nan)方運(yun)(yun)來,特(te)別是(shi)(shi)元定都北(bei)京(jing)后(hou),這種情況更為突出(chu)。雖開辟(pi)了(le)海運(yun)(yun)、但(dan)損耗(hao)過大,如(ru)至元二(er)十年(nian)(1283)歲(sui)運(yun)(yun)四萬(wan)六(liu)千多(duo)石(shi)糧,漂(piao)溺損耗(hao)者至四萬(wan)二(er)千多(duo)石(shi),而且糧食運(yun)(yun)到通(tong)(tong)州后(hou),再通(tong)(tong)過陸路運(yun)(yun)送到北(bei)京(jing)城,糧多(duo)路遠,運(yun)(yun)糧兵民苦不堪言,至元三(san)十年(nian)(1293)通(tong)(tong)惠河工竣,“自(zi)是(shi)(shi)免都民陸挽之勞(lao),公(gong)私便之,帝自(zi)上都還,過積水(shui)(shui)潭(tan),見(jian)舳(zhu)艫蔽水(shui)(shui),大悅,賜(si)名通(tong)(tong)惠。”及至明朝,通(tong)(tong)惠漕運(yun)(yun)干道,東(dong)南(nan)(nan)(nan)之粟,年(nian)漕已到數百萬(wan)石(shi)。東(dong)南(nan)(nan)(nan)貢賦,歲(sui)億(yi)萬(wan)計,市民所需,則不可悉數,概由此河運(yun)(yun)京(jing)。