惠濟(ji)橋位于(yu)中(zhong)國歷史(shi)文(wen)化名(ming)(ming)城平(ping)(ping)遙古城東北角約一里的(de)惠濟(ji)河上(shang),是一座(zuo)九墩聯孔的(de)石(shi)拱(gong)橋。盡管(guan)距離舉(ju)世聞名(ming)(ming)的(de)平(ping)(ping)遙古城墻直線距離只有(you)不到三百米,但(dan)是她似乎并沒(mei)有(you)沾到這座(zuo)“世界歷史(shi)文(wen)化名(ming)(ming)城”的(de)什么“光(guang)”:既沒(mei)什么保護,也沒(mei)有(you)什么名(ming)(ming)聲。既沒(mei)人知道,也沒(mei)人去看,對(dui)于(yu)文(wen)物來說倒不是什么壞事(shi),關鍵問題是,惠濟(ji)橋仍在(zai)辛勤地“工作”著(zhu)。
橋身由石料砌筑,全(quan)長(chang)80米,呈弧形,橋面(mian)7.4米。欄(lan)板、望柱(zhu)上雕刻有細膩的動物花(hua)卉(hui)圖案。橋面(mian)由條石鋪砌而成的,加工精細,粘(zhan)合(he)牢固規整,造(zao)型古(gu)樸大方。惠濟橋建造(zao)獨特,是(shi)研究我國古(gu)代(dai)橋梁建造(zao)技術的珍貴(gui)實物資料。
惠濟(ji)橋(qiao)(qiao)始建(jian)于(yu)清康熙(xi)十(公(gong)元1671)年春,歷時十年,是當時“官民(min)合作”的(de)一項(xiang)大型(xing)“民(min)生(sheng)(sheng)工程”,起初(chu)是本(ben)地人劉澤民(min)、薛(xue)進忠、閆(yan)賀泰、劉孚幫、安爾幫、劉澤長(chang)等人發(fa)起倡(chang)議,并集(ji)資捐款(kuan)建(jian)造,但是這次只修建(jian)了(le)(le)五孔,后(hou)(hou)來由于(yu)河(he)水(shui)沖擊,橋(qiao)(qiao)略有毀損,這個時候(hou)平遙的(de)前后(hou)(hou)兩任知縣(xian)接(jie)力與民(min)為善,拔錢拔糧(liang),并發(fa)動紳(shen)士再捐款(kuan),重新修橋(qiao)(qiao),始成(cheng)(cheng)今天的(de)惠濟(ji)橋(qiao)(qiao)。橋(qiao)(qiao)最后(hou)(hou)建(jian)成(cheng)(cheng)后(hou)(hou),還用余款(kuan)在(zai)橋(qiao)(qiao)東北修建(jian)了(le)(le)一座庵堂,并請(qing)傅(fu)山先生(sheng)(sheng)題寫了(le)(le)碑(bei)碣,國朝初(chu)始,庵毀碑(bei)失,幸(xing)有碑(bei)文傳世。
惠濟橋(qiao)由本地產的砂石(shi)(shi)砌造而成,南(nan)北(bei)向(xiang)跨越(yue)惠濟河(he)。現橋(qiao)全長約80米(mi),橋(qiao)寬約7米(mi),橋(qiao)身呈弧(hu)形,中(zhong)(zhong)間一孔最高(gao),弧(hu)矢距河(he)床表面高(gao)約6米(mi)。橋(qiao)身兩側各立高(gao)約1米(mi)的石(shi)(shi)質(zhi)望柱(zhu)(zhu)40根(gen),望柱(zhu)(zhu)間裝(zhuang)(zhuang)砌單鉤闌(lan)石(shi)(shi)質(zhi)欄板,都是國朝更換的,這些原裝(zhuang)(zhuang)構件大部分已(yi)經腐朽不能用,有一截(jie)較好的原裝(zhuang)(zhuang)勾闌(lan)保存在平遙縣博物館(清(qing)虛(xu)觀)中(zhong)(zhong)。
惠(hui)濟橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)的(de)九(jiu)聯孔(kong)(kong)拱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)券水窗形(xing)制基本相同(tong):除橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)基外(wai),在(zai)河床表面(mian)用(yong)方形(xing)、矩形(xing)等(deng)條石(shi)砌出橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)墩十層,高(gao)約2米,厚約2米余。橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)墩之上是由數(shu)量不(bu)等(deng)(大(da)約30道)的(de)砂石(shi)組合橫拱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)砌券而成,拱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)券外(wai)側裝砌弧形(xing)石(shi)數(shu)量不(bu)等(deng)(約12-15塊),弧形(xing)石(shi)上下兩端大(da)部分標識有(you)施工(gong)記。在(zai)中間(jian)五(wu)孔(kong)(kong)的(de)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)拱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)頂部正中裝有(you)石(shi)雕(diao)跁廈(傳說中“龍生九(jiu)子(zi)(zi)”之一),首東(dong)尾西而形(xing)態各異。拱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)矢上均不(bu)繳背,直接(jie)安裝橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)面(mian)石(shi)板和兩側的(de)螭(chi)子(zi)(zi)石(shi),螭(chi)子(zi)(zi)石(shi)稍微(wei)突出橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)身些(xie)許。整(zheng)個石(shi)拱(gong)(gong)(gong)(gong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)上的(de)大(da)小券石(shi)均雕(diao)琢精細,裝砌整(zheng)齊,外(wai)觀悅目。