永通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)是(shi)(shi)通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)惠河上的(de)重(zhong)要橋(qiao)(qiao)梁,史(shi)稱(cheng)它(ta)是(shi)(shi)“陸運(yun)京(jing)儲之(zhi)通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)道”。永通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)是(shi)(shi)北(bei)京(jing)四大名(ming)橋(qiao)(qiao)之(zhi)一。坐(zuo)落(luo)在(zai)古老(lao)的(de)通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)惠河上,因(yin)(yin)距通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)縣城西八(ba)里(li),故俗稱(cheng)“八(ba)里(li)橋(qiao)(qiao)”或(huo)“八(ba)里(li)莊橋(qiao)(qiao)”,而其原名(ming)卻鮮為人知了(le)(le)。河北(bei)趙(zhao)縣也有(you)橋(qiao)(qiao)名(ming)永通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)。永通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)正是(shi)(shi)在(zai)這(zhe)(zhe)樣一條(tiao)十(shi)分重(zhong)要和(he)著名(ming)的(de)漕河上建(jian)造(zao)的(de)一座大型(xing)石(shi)拱橋(qiao)(qiao)。史(shi)稱(cheng)它(ta)是(shi)(shi)“陸運(yun)京(jing)儲之(zhi)通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)道”。石(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao)的(de)前身是(shi)(shi)座木(mu)橋(qiao)(qiao),因(yin)(yin)通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)惠河坡度較大、河水(shui)湍(tuan)急。常將這(zhe)(zhe)里(li)原建(jian)的(de)木(mu)橋(qiao)(qiao)沖毀,影(ying)響交通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong),因(yin)(yin)此有(you)內(nei)宮太監李(li)德奏(zou)于(yu)明英宗(zong)(zong),建(jian)議于(yu)此地建(jian)石(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao),英宗(zong)(zong)準奏(zou),正統(tong)十(shi)一年十(shi)二月石(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao)竣工(gong),英宗(zong)(zong)賜名(ming)“永通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)”。石(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao)的(de)建(jian)成,不僅解決了(le)(le)交通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong),控制(zhi)了(le)(le)洪水(shui),還(huan)為古老(lao)的(de)通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)惠河增加了(le)(le)一個(ge)美麗壯觀的(de)景點。所謂(wei)“長橋(qiao)(qiao)映月”正是(shi)(shi)通(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)州(zhou)八(ba)景之(zhi)一。
八里(li)橋的(de)造型極為(wei)(wei)特殊。中(zhong)孔特高(gao)(gao),高(gao)(gao)達八點五米,寬六(liu)點七米,兩次孔僅高(gao)(gao)三點五米,相差懸殊。這(zhe)種(zhong)構造是專為(wei)(wei)漕運的(de)需(xu)要設計的(de)。通惠河運糧(liang)船多為(wei)(wei)帆船,如建造普通形式(shi)拱橋,勢必阻礙(ai)漕船的(de)航行,為(wei)(wei)此古代工匠(jiang)將橋的(de)中(zhong)孔建造得相當高(gao)(gao)聳(song),漕船可直出(chu)直入,圓滿地解決了(le)這(zhe)一(yi)難題。所謂“八里(li)橋不落桅”正是指此。
八里(li)橋地處交通(tong)要沖(chong),戰(zhan)略上是(shi)兵(bing)家必(bi)爭之(zhi)地。歷史(shi)上這里(li)曾進(jin)行過兩次(ci)大(da)規模的中外戰(zhan)爭。第一次(ci)為咸豐十(shi)年(nian)(1860),中國官軍與英法侵(qin)略軍交戰(zhan)。第二次(ci)為光緒二十(shi)六(liu)年(nian)(1900),義和團(tuan)與八國聯軍在此(ci)展開(kai)了激烈戰(zhan)斗。永(yong)通(tong)橋不僅具(ju)有十(shi)分珍貴的歷史(shi)、科學(xue)和藝(yi)術價值(zhi),而(er)且(qie)還是(shi)近代史(shi)上的重要紀念建(jian)筑。
通惠(hui)河(he)是元(yuan)至(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)元(yuan)二(er)(er)十(shi)七(1290)春由(you)都水(shui)監郭守敬主持(chi)開(kai)鑿的一條重要人工(gong)河(he)道(dao)。此(ci)河(he)“上(shang)(shang)自(zi)昌平(ping)白浮(fu)村引神山泉,西折南(nan)(nan)(nan)轉,過(guo)雙(shuang)塔(ta)榆河(he)、一畝、玉泉清水(shui),至(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)西水(shui)門(men)入(ru)(ru)都城,南(nan)(nan)(nan)匯為積水(shui)潭(tan),東(dong)南(nan)(nan)(nan)出文明門(men),東(dong)至(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)通州(zhou)(zhou)高麗莊入(ru)(ru)白河(he)。總長一百六(liu)十(shi)四(si)(si)里一百四(si)(si)步”。北京地處(chu)北方,物資較為貧(pin)乏,眾多(duo)物資多(duo)從南(nan)(nan)(nan)方運(yun)來(lai),特別是元(yuan)定都北京后(hou)(hou),這種情況更為突出。雖開(kai)辟(pi)了海運(yun)、但(dan)損(sun)(sun)耗(hao)過(guo)大,如至(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)元(yuan)二(er)(er)十(shi)年(nian)(1283)歲運(yun)四(si)(si)萬六(liu)千多(duo)石糧(liang),漂(piao)溺損(sun)(sun)耗(hao)者至(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)四(si)(si)萬二(er)(er)千多(duo)石,而(er)且糧(liang)食運(yun)到通州(zhou)(zhou)后(hou)(hou),再通過(guo)陸路(lu)運(yun)送到北京城,糧(liang)多(duo)路(lu)遠,運(yun)糧(liang)兵民苦不堪言,至(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)元(yuan)三十(shi)年(nian)(1293)通惠(hui)河(he)工(gong)竣,“自(zi)是免都民陸挽之勞,公私便之,帝自(zi)上(shang)(shang)都還(huan),過(guo)積水(shui)潭(tan),見舳艫蔽水(shui),大悅(yue),賜(si)名通惠(hui)。”及至(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)明朝,通惠(hui)漕運(yun)干道(dao),東(dong)南(nan)(nan)(nan)之粟,年(nian)漕已(yi)到數百萬石。東(dong)南(nan)(nan)(nan)貢賦,歲億萬計(ji),市民所(suo)需,則不可(ke)悉數,概由(you)此(ci)河(he)運(yun)京。