據傳,唐代建(jian)浮橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)時(shi)(shi),由于江(jiang)流湍急,建(jian)筑(zhu)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)基(ji)時(shi)(shi)發生(sheng)困難。此時(shi)(shi)天降暴雨(yu),雨(yu)后天現彩虹(hong)。因(yin)而工匠在出現彩虹(hong)之(zhi)處打下橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)樁,將(jiang)(jiang)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)建(jian)起(qi),因(yin)而時(shi)(shi)人認為(wei)(wei)靈(ling)現,故橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)名(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)定為(wei)(wei)靈(ling)現橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),又名(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)靈(ling)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)。南宋時(shi)(shi),靈(ling)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)改(gai)稱東津浮橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),清代康熙年間(jian)浙海關建(jian)立(li)后,亦(yi)更名(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)關橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)。1936年重建(jian)為(wei)(wei)永久橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)梁時(shi)(shi),曾有民(min)間(jian)團體提議將(jiang)(jiang)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)名(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)更名(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)為(wei)(wei)“中山橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)”,但寧波老江(jiang)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)籌備委員會以(yi)保護(hu)古(gu)跡為(wei)(wei)名(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming),將(jiang)(jiang)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)名(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)恢復為(wei)(wei)“靈(ling)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)”。文化大革命(ming)期間(jian),靈(ling)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)曾被(bei)更名(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)為(wei)(wei)“紅衛橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)”,1981年恢復靈(ling)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)名(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)稱。
民(min)(min)間(jian)曾(ceng)稱(cheng)靈(ling)(ling)橋(qiao)為(wei)“江橋(qiao)”,后由于清代同治(zhi)年間(jian)英國人在(zai)桃花渡建成新(xin)江橋(qiao),為(wei)表示區別,靈(ling)(ling)橋(qiao)的民(min)(min)間(jian)稱(cheng)呼遂改為(wei)老(lao)江橋(qiao),這一俗稱(cheng)一直沿用(yong)至今
靈(ling)橋始建(jian)(jian)(jian)于唐朝,原為木造(zao)浮橋。1931年,由旅滬甬(yong)商發起改建(jian)(jian)(jian),上海工(gong)(gong)部局英籍(ji)工(gong)(gong)程師(shi)詹(zhan)姆森、新仁記(ji)營造(zao)廠工(gong)(gong)程師(shi)竺泉通勘查設計(ji),德國西門子(zi)公司總承包,于1934年開(kai)工(gong)(gong)建(jian)(jian)(jian)設,1936年完工(gong)(gong)。靈(ling)橋是中國第一座(zuo)有(you)中國工(gong)(gong)程師(shi)參與設計(ji)的(de)單孔鋼(gang)梁環(huan)形(xing)橋。全長(chang)132米,跨(kua)度97.5米,是現存浙江(jiang)省內(nei)較早的(de)少數(shu)現代工(gong)(gong)程技術橋梁,具(ju)有(you)劃時代的(de)意義。
1931年8月,改建(jian)(jian)寧(ning)波(bo)老江橋(qiao)(qiao)(即靈現橋(qiao)(qiao))籌備委員會在寧(ning)波(bo)、上(shang)海同時成(cheng)立。據(ju)說(shuo)建(jian)(jian)橋(qiao)(qiao)工作是在上(shang)海旅滬(hu)寧(ning)波(bo)同鄉會的(de)(de)(de)主(zhu)持(chi)下開(kai)展的(de)(de)(de),早期在滬(hu)上(shang)成(cheng)功的(de)(de)(de)寧(ning)波(bo)人(ren)士堅持(chi)要在家鄉造一座像上(shang)海蘇州河上(shang)外白渡橋(qiao)(qiao)那樣的(de)(de)(de)堅固(gu)橋(qiao)(qiao)梁。最后,寧(ning)波(bo)靈橋(qiao)(qiao)由(you)上(shang)海工部局英(ying)籍(ji)工程師(shi)詹姆生和新江記營造廠竺泉通(tong)設計中標,德國西門(men)子洋行中標工程承(cheng)包。但據(ju)當(dang)時參與建(jian)(jian)橋(qiao)(qiao)的(de)(de)(de)老人(ren)施(shi)求(qiu)藏回憶說(shuo):靈橋(qiao)(qiao)用外國材料、掛(gua)洋行牌(pai)子,但實際上(shang)設計、施(shi)工都是滬(hu)甬兩地的(de)(de)(de)寧(ning)波(bo)人(ren)。英(ying)國人(ren)詹姆生、師(shi)克(ke)和許多(duo)外國人(ren)很少來寧(ning)波(bo)。于1936年建(jian)(jian)成(cheng)通(tong)車。
靈(ling)(ling)橋(qiao)建成后(hou)(hou)歷經滄(cang)桑,在日(ri)寇侵略(lve)我(wo)國,寧(ning)波淪(lun)陷前遭(zao)受了日(ri)本侵略(lve)者飛機的轟炸(zha)(zha),被炸(zha)(zha)得千瘡(chuang)百孔(kong),抗日(ri)勝利后(hou)(hou)曾作修(xiu)繕,但在寧(ning)波解放(fang)(fang)后(hou)(hou),國民黨(dang)轟炸(zha)(zha)機幾乎天天來轟炸(zha)(zha),靈(ling)(ling)橋(qiao)上(shang)路面、鋼(gang)梁上(shang)彈孔(kong)累累,但靈(ling)(ling)橋(qiao)仍然屹(yi)立在奉化江上(shang),是解放(fang)(fang)舟山(shan)群島(dao)的鋼(gang)鐵(tie)運輸線(xian)。
這(zhe)座橋(qiao)(qiao)由德國西門子公司(si)設計,這(zhe)家公司(si)經歷二戰,竟(jing)仍然(ran)保存著靈(ling)橋(qiao)(qiao)的檔(dang)案,前(qian)不久還寄來文(wen)件提(ti)醒業(ye)主及時維修(xiu)。
寧波靈(ling)(ling)橋(qiao)歷(li)史可追(zhui)溯(su)到(dao)唐(tang)代(dai)。奉化江奔騰咆哮把當時(shi)的明州(zhou)撕成(cheng)兩半,為解(jie)決舟(zhou)渡難險,公元823年制16舟(zhou)船,用(yong)蒙索連排(pai),上鋪寬6尺的木(mu)板,長(chang)55丈,據說通橋(qiao)當時(shi)天(tian)空出(chu)現(xian)彩(cai)虹(hong),即立橋(qiao)名為“靈(ling)(ling)現(xian)橋(qiao)”。
此后“靈現(xian)橋”在清末改建,但因缺(que)錢而作罷,1922年,一(yi)場秋風沖毀了屢(lv)修屢(lv)毀的靈現(xian)浮橋。
1931年(nian)8月,改建寧(ning)(ning)波老(lao)江(jiang)橋(qiao)(qiao)(即靈現橋(qiao)(qiao))籌備委員會在寧(ning)(ning)波、上(shang)(shang)(shang)海(hai)(hai)同時成立(li)。據說建橋(qiao)(qiao)工(gong)作(zuo)是在上(shang)(shang)(shang)海(hai)(hai)旅(lv)滬寧(ning)(ning)波同鄉(xiang)會的(de)主持下開展的(de),早期(qi)在滬上(shang)(shang)(shang)成功的(de)寧(ning)(ning)波人(ren)士堅持要在家鄉(xiang)造一(yi)座像上(shang)(shang)(shang)海(hai)(hai)蘇州河上(shang)(shang)(shang)外白渡(du)橋(qiao)(qiao)那樣(yang)的(de)堅固(gu)橋(qiao)(qiao)梁。最后,寧(ning)(ning)波靈橋(qiao)(qiao)由上(shang)(shang)(shang)海(hai)(hai)工(gong)部局(ju)英(ying)籍(ji)工(gong)程師詹姆生和新江(jiang)記營造廠(chang)竺泉通設(she)計(ji)中標,德國(guo)西門子洋(yang)行中標工(gong)程承包。但(dan)據當時參與建橋(qiao)(qiao)的(de)老(lao)人(ren)施(shi)求藏回憶說:靈橋(qiao)(qiao)用外國(guo)材料(liao)、掛洋(yang)行牌子,但(dan)實際上(shang)(shang)(shang)設(she)計(ji)、施(shi)工(gong)都是滬甬兩(liang)地(di)的(de)寧(ning)(ning)波人(ren)。英(ying)國(guo)人(ren)詹姆生、師克和許(xu)多外國(guo)人(ren)很少來寧(ning)(ning)波。于1936年(nian)建成通車(che)。
靈橋(qiao)建成后(hou)歷經滄桑,在日寇侵略我國,寧波淪(lun)陷前(qian)遭受了(le)日本侵略者飛機(ji)的轟(hong)炸(zha)(zha),被炸(zha)(zha)得千瘡百孔,抗日勝利后(hou)曾作修繕(shan),但在寧波解放后(hou),國民黨轟(hong)炸(zha)(zha)機(ji)幾乎天天來(lai)轟(hong)炸(zha)(zha),靈橋(qiao)上路面、鋼梁上彈孔累累,但靈橋(qiao)仍然屹立在奉化江上,是解放舟山群島的鋼鐵運輸線。