歷史
據《清乾隆光山縣志》記載,明萬(wan)歷庚(geng)申年(nian)(1620年(nian))由潑陂河境(jing)內紳士、鄉耆并(bing)殷實好施者(zhe)(zhe),爭(zheng)相(xiang)捐資相(xiang)助,始建成“永(yong)濟(ji)橋(qiao)”。后此橋(qiao)在歷次整修(xiu)中,有眾多好心(xin)行(xing)善(shan)者(zhe)(zhe)傾囊獻款,因募捐款多,人們又稱此橋(qiao)為“萬(wan)金橋(qiao)”。
結構
永濟橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)是(shi)河南(nan)省最長的(de)(de)古(gu)代(dai)(dai)石(shi)拱(gong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)。南(nan)北長101米,東西寬(kuan)7米,橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)下由(you)(you)9個(ge)拱(gong)形(xing)孔(kong)(kong)聯(lian)綴(zhui)而成(cheng),每(mei)(mei)個(ge)拱(gong)形(xing)孔(kong)(kong)長度不(bu)一,自6至12米不(bu)等,寬(kuan)度和(he)高度由(you)(you)中(zhong)間(jian)孔(kong)(kong)向兩邊(bian)遞(di)減(jian),中(zhong)間(jian)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)孔(kong)(kong)是(shi)高大(da)的(de)(de)陡拱(gong),如駝峰突起,逐漸向兩邊(bian)過渡為(wei)弓形(xing)孔(kong)(kong),宛如彎月。這(zhe)樣(yang)的(de)(de)造型顯示(shi)了建(jian)筑力學(xue)和(he)美(mei)學(xue)的(de)(de)有(you)(you)機(ji)契(qi)合。由(you)(you)于(yu)中(zhong)間(jian)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)孔(kong)(kong)高大(da),整座橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)呈(cheng)八字型。這(zhe)種建(jian)筑在古(gu)代(dai)(dai)既能使(shi)樓船順利通過,又可以迅速排除橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)面雨水(shui)(shui),防止橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)面積水(shui)(shui),向橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)下滲漏(lou)腐蝕橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)梁結(jie)構。每(mei)(mei)一橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)墩都“肩挑”兩拱(gong),拱(gong)相連,構成(cheng)整體(ti),共同承(cheng)受(shou)著整座石(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)的(de)(de)重(zhong)量。由(you)(you)于(yu)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)身長、跨度大(da)、橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)面較(jiao)寬(kuan),加之全部(bu)由(you)(you)花崗石(shi)構成(cheng),使(shi)得(de)大(da)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)形(xing)成(cheng)一種宏(hong)偉、壯觀的(de)(de)氣(qi)勢。橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)墩的(de)(de)東側(ce)(ce),建(jian)有(you)(you)高大(da)的(de)(de)分(fen)水(shui)(shui)嶺,可分(fen)開洪水(shui)(shui)穿(chuan)孔(kong)(kong)而瀉,這(zhe)是(shi)減(jian)少(shao)山洪沖(chong)擊,保護長橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)的(de)(de)一項(xiang)科學(xue)措施。橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)面兩側(ce)(ce)建(jian)有(you)(you)欄桿,兩邊(bian)為(wei)人行道(dao),中(zhong)間(jian)為(wei)車道(dao)。據記載過去兩端橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)堍(tu)有(you)(you)華表,兩旁有(you)(you)石(shi)欄石(shi)柱。每(mei)(mei)個(ge)柱頭都雕刻著不(bu)同姿態的(de)(de)獅子,橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)身兩邊(bian)雕刻有(you)(you)各種圖(tu)案(an)紋飾(shi),使(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)的(de)(de)造型從整體(ti)結(jie)構至局部(bu)裝飾(shi)都達到了完美(mei)的(de)(de)境地。 可惜自明(ming)清以來(lai),該橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)幾毀幾建(jian),石(shi)欄石(shi)柱早已不(bu)存在,被(bei)換成(cheng)水(shui)(shui)泥澆注的(de)(de)。歷次維修的(de)(de)痕跡依稀可辨。
永(yong)濟橋(qiao)是(shi)光山(shan)縣(xian)最長最大的(de)古(gu)代(dai)聯拱石橋(qiao),也是(shi)河(he)南省(sheng)最長最大的(de)古(gu)代(dai)聯拱石橋(qiao)。它是(shi)光山(shan)勞動(dong)人民的(de)智慧(hui)的(de)結晶。它對于(yu)了解我國明代(dai)建筑藝術,有著重要(yao)的(de)價(jia)值。一九八0年(nian)由光山(shan)縣(xian)人民政府(fu)(fu)公(gong)布為(wei)縣(xian)級文物(wu)保護(hu)單位(wei),二(er)000年(nian)九月,河(he)南省(sheng)人民政府(fu)(fu)正式(shi)批準永(yong)濟橋(qiao)為(wei)省(sheng)級文物(wu)保護(hu)單位(wei)。