永通(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)是(shi)(shi)通(tong)惠河(he)(he)(he)上(shang)的(de)(de)重要橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)梁,史稱它(ta)是(shi)(shi)“陸(lu)運京(jing)儲(chu)之通(tong)道”。永通(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)是(shi)(shi)北京(jing)四大(da)名(ming)(ming)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)之一。坐落在古老的(de)(de)通(tong)惠河(he)(he)(he)上(shang),因(yin)距(ju)通(tong)縣城西八里,故俗稱“八里橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)”或“八里莊橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)”,而其(qi)原(yuan)名(ming)(ming)卻(que)鮮(xian)為人(ren)知了。河(he)(he)(he)北趙(zhao)縣也有(you)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)名(ming)(ming)永通(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)。永通(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)正(zheng)是(shi)(shi)在這樣一條十分重要和(he)著(zhu)名(ming)(ming)的(de)(de)漕河(he)(he)(he)上(shang)建造的(de)(de)一座(zuo)大(da)型石(shi)(shi)拱橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)。史稱它(ta)是(shi)(shi)“陸(lu)運京(jing)儲(chu)之通(tong)道”。石(shi)(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)的(de)(de)前身是(shi)(shi)座(zuo)木橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),因(yin)通(tong)惠河(he)(he)(he)坡度較(jiao)大(da)、河(he)(he)(he)水(shui)湍急。常將這里原(yuan)建的(de)(de)木橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)沖毀(hui),影響交(jiao)(jiao)通(tong),因(yin)此(ci)有(you)內宮(gong)太監李(li)德奏于(yu)明英(ying)(ying)宗,建議(yi)于(yu)此(ci)地(di)建石(shi)(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),英(ying)(ying)宗準奏,正(zheng)統(tong)十一年十二月石(shi)(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)竣工,英(ying)(ying)宗賜名(ming)(ming)“永通(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)”。石(shi)(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)的(de)(de)建成,不僅解決了交(jiao)(jiao)通(tong),控制了洪水(shui),還為古老的(de)(de)通(tong)惠河(he)(he)(he)增(zeng)加了一個美麗壯觀(guan)的(de)(de)景(jing)(jing)點。所謂“長橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)映月”正(zheng)是(shi)(shi)通(tong)州八景(jing)(jing)之一。
八(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)的(de)造(zao)型極為特殊。中(zhong)孔特高,高達八(ba)點(dian)五米(mi),寬六點(dian)七米(mi),兩次孔僅(jin)高三(san)點(dian)五米(mi),相差懸殊。這(zhe)種構造(zao)是專為漕運的(de)需要設計的(de)。通惠(hui)河運糧(liang)船多為帆(fan)船,如建造(zao)普通形式(shi)拱橋(qiao),勢必阻礙漕船的(de)航行,為此古代(dai)工匠將橋(qiao)的(de)中(zhong)孔建造(zao)得(de)相當(dang)高聳(song),漕船可(ke)直出直入(ru),圓滿(man)地解決了這(zhe)一難題。所謂(wei)“八(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)不落(luo)桅”正是指(zhi)此。
八(ba)里(li)(li)橋地處交(jiao)通要沖,戰(zhan)略上是兵家(jia)必爭之地。歷史上這(zhe)里(li)(li)曾進行(xing)過兩次大規模的(de)(de)中外戰(zhan)爭。第一次為咸(xian)豐十(shi)年(nian)(1860),中國(guo)官(guan)軍與(yu)(yu)英法侵略軍交(jiao)戰(zhan)。第二次為光緒二十(shi)六年(nian)(1900),義(yi)和團與(yu)(yu)八(ba)國(guo)聯軍在此展開(kai)了(le)激烈戰(zhan)斗。永通橋不僅具有十(shi)分珍貴(gui)的(de)(de)歷史、科(ke)學和藝(yi)術價值(zhi),而且還是近代史上的(de)(de)重要紀念建筑。
通(tong)(tong)(tong)惠(hui)河(he)是(shi)元(yuan)至(zhi)(zhi)元(yuan)二(er)(er)十七(1290)春(chun)由都(dou)水(shui)監郭守(shou)敬主持開鑿的一(yi)條重要人(ren)工(gong)河(he)道(dao)。此(ci)(ci)河(he)“上自(zi)昌平白(bai)(bai)浮村引神山泉,西折南轉(zhuan),過(guo)雙塔榆河(he)、一(yi)畝(mu)、玉(yu)泉清水(shui),至(zhi)(zhi)西水(shui)門入都(dou)城(cheng),南匯為(wei)(wei)積(ji)水(shui)潭,東(dong)南出文(wen)明(ming)門,東(dong)至(zhi)(zhi)通(tong)(tong)(tong)州高麗(li)莊入白(bai)(bai)河(he)。總長一(yi)百六十四(si)(si)里一(yi)百四(si)(si)步”。北(bei)京地處(chu)北(bei)方(fang),物資較為(wei)(wei)貧乏,眾多(duo)物資多(duo)從(cong)南方(fang)運(yun)來,特別是(shi)元(yuan)定都(dou)北(bei)京后(hou)(hou),這種(zhong)情況更為(wei)(wei)突出。雖開辟了海運(yun)、但損耗(hao)過(guo)大,如至(zhi)(zhi)元(yuan)二(er)(er)十年(1283)歲運(yun)四(si)(si)萬六千多(duo)石糧(liang)(liang),漂溺(ni)損耗(hao)者至(zhi)(zhi)四(si)(si)萬二(er)(er)千多(duo)石,而(er)且(qie)糧(liang)(liang)食運(yun)到通(tong)(tong)(tong)州后(hou)(hou),再(zai)通(tong)(tong)(tong)過(guo)陸路運(yun)送到北(bei)京城(cheng),糧(liang)(liang)多(duo)路遠,運(yun)糧(liang)(liang)兵(bing)民(min)苦不堪言,至(zhi)(zhi)元(yuan)三十年(1293)通(tong)(tong)(tong)惠(hui)河(he)工(gong)竣,“自(zi)是(shi)免(mian)都(dou)民(min)陸挽之(zhi)勞(lao),公私便之(zhi),帝自(zi)上都(dou)還,過(guo)積(ji)水(shui)潭,見舳艫蔽水(shui),大悅,賜名通(tong)(tong)(tong)惠(hui)。”及(ji)至(zhi)(zhi)明(ming)朝,通(tong)(tong)(tong)惠(hui)漕運(yun)干道(dao),東(dong)南之(zhi)粟(su),年漕已到數百萬石。東(dong)南貢賦,歲億萬計(ji),市民(min)所(suo)需,則不可悉數,概由此(ci)(ci)河(he)運(yun)京。