永通(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)是通(tong)(tong)惠(hui)河(he)(he)上(shang)的(de)(de)重要(yao)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)梁,史稱(cheng)它是“陸運京(jing)儲(chu)之(zhi)(zhi)通(tong)(tong)道(dao)”。永通(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)是北京(jing)四大名橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)之(zhi)(zhi)一(yi)。坐落在(zai)古(gu)老的(de)(de)通(tong)(tong)惠(hui)河(he)(he)上(shang),因距(ju)通(tong)(tong)縣(xian)城西八里(li),故俗稱(cheng)“八里(li)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)”或(huo)“八里(li)莊橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)”,而其原(yuan)(yuan)名卻(que)鮮為(wei)人知了(le)。河(he)(he)北趙縣(xian)也有(you)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)名永通(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)。永通(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)正是在(zai)這(zhe)(zhe)樣一(yi)條(tiao)十(shi)分重要(yao)和著名的(de)(de)漕河(he)(he)上(shang)建(jian)造的(de)(de)一(yi)座大型(xing)石(shi)拱(gong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)。史稱(cheng)它是“陸運京(jing)儲(chu)之(zhi)(zhi)通(tong)(tong)道(dao)”。石(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)的(de)(de)前身是座木(mu)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),因通(tong)(tong)惠(hui)河(he)(he)坡度較(jiao)大、河(he)(he)水(shui)湍急。常(chang)將(jiang)這(zhe)(zhe)里(li)原(yuan)(yuan)建(jian)的(de)(de)木(mu)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)沖毀(hui),影(ying)響(xiang)交通(tong)(tong),因此有(you)內(nei)宮太監李德奏(zou)于明英宗(zong),建(jian)議于此地建(jian)石(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),英宗(zong)準奏(zou),正統十(shi)一(yi)年十(shi)二月石(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)竣工,英宗(zong)賜名“永通(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)”。石(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)的(de)(de)建(jian)成(cheng),不(bu)僅解決了(le)交通(tong)(tong),控制了(le)洪水(shui),還為(wei)古(gu)老的(de)(de)通(tong)(tong)惠(hui)河(he)(he)增加了(le)一(yi)個美麗壯觀的(de)(de)景點。所謂“長橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)映月”正是通(tong)(tong)州八景之(zhi)(zhi)一(yi)。
八里橋的(de)(de)造型極為(wei)特殊。中孔(kong)(kong)特高(gao),高(gao)達八點五米,寬六點七米,兩次(ci)孔(kong)(kong)僅高(gao)三點五米,相(xiang)(xiang)差(cha)懸(xuan)殊。這種構(gou)造是專為(wei)漕運的(de)(de)需要設計的(de)(de)。通(tong)惠河(he)運糧船多為(wei)帆船,如建(jian)造普通(tong)形(xing)式拱橋,勢必阻礙漕船的(de)(de)航(hang)行,為(wei)此(ci)古代(dai)工(gong)匠將橋的(de)(de)中孔(kong)(kong)建(jian)造得相(xiang)(xiang)當(dang)高(gao)聳,漕船可直出直入(ru),圓滿地(di)解(jie)決了這一難題。所謂(wei)“八里橋不落桅(wei)”正是指此(ci)。
八里(li)橋地(di)處(chu)交(jiao)通(tong)要沖,戰(zhan)(zhan)略上(shang)是兵家必爭之(zhi)地(di)。歷史上(shang)這里(li)曾(ceng)進行過兩次(ci)大規模的(de)中(zhong)外戰(zhan)(zhan)爭。第一次(ci)為(wei)咸(xian)豐十(shi)年(1860),中(zhong)國(guo)官軍與英法侵略軍交(jiao)戰(zhan)(zhan)。第二次(ci)為(wei)光緒二十(shi)六年(1900),義和團(tuan)與八國(guo)聯軍在此展開了(le)激烈戰(zhan)(zhan)斗。永通(tong)橋不僅具有十(shi)分珍(zhen)貴的(de)歷史、科(ke)學和藝術(shu)價值(zhi),而(er)且還(huan)是近代史上(shang)的(de)重要紀念建(jian)筑。
通(tong)惠(hui)河(he)是元(yuan)至(zhi)(zhi)元(yuan)二(er)十(shi)七(1290)春由都(dou)水(shui)監郭守敬主持開鑿的一條(tiao)重要人工(gong)河(he)道(dao)(dao)。此(ci)河(he)“上自(zi)昌平(ping)白(bai)(bai)浮村引(yin)神山(shan)泉,西折南轉,過雙塔榆(yu)河(he)、一畝、玉(yu)泉清水(shui),至(zhi)(zhi)西水(shui)門入(ru)(ru)都(dou)城,南匯(hui)為積(ji)水(shui)潭(tan),東(dong)(dong)南出文(wen)明門,東(dong)(dong)至(zhi)(zhi)通(tong)州高麗莊入(ru)(ru)白(bai)(bai)河(he)。總長一百六十(shi)四(si)里(li)一百四(si)步”。北(bei)京(jing)(jing)地處北(bei)方(fang)(fang),物(wu)資(zi)較為貧乏,眾多(duo)(duo)物(wu)資(zi)多(duo)(duo)從南方(fang)(fang)運(yun)(yun)來,特別是元(yuan)定都(dou)北(bei)京(jing)(jing)后(hou)(hou),這種(zhong)情況(kuang)更為突出。雖開辟了(le)海(hai)運(yun)(yun)、但損耗(hao)(hao)過大,如至(zhi)(zhi)元(yuan)二(er)十(shi)年(nian)(1283)歲(sui)運(yun)(yun)四(si)萬(wan)六千(qian)多(duo)(duo)石(shi)糧,漂溺損耗(hao)(hao)者至(zhi)(zhi)四(si)萬(wan)二(er)千(qian)多(duo)(duo)石(shi),而(er)且糧食運(yun)(yun)到通(tong)州后(hou)(hou),再(zai)通(tong)過陸(lu)路運(yun)(yun)送到北(bei)京(jing)(jing)城,糧多(duo)(duo)路遠,運(yun)(yun)糧兵民(min)(min)苦不(bu)堪言(yan),至(zhi)(zhi)元(yuan)三十(shi)年(nian)(1293)通(tong)惠(hui)河(he)工(gong)竣,“自(zi)是免都(dou)民(min)(min)陸(lu)挽之(zhi)勞,公私(si)便(bian)之(zhi),帝自(zi)上都(dou)還,過積(ji)水(shui)潭(tan),見舳艫蔽水(shui),大悅(yue),賜名通(tong)惠(hui)。”及至(zhi)(zhi)明朝,通(tong)惠(hui)漕運(yun)(yun)干道(dao)(dao),東(dong)(dong)南之(zhi)粟,年(nian)漕已到數百萬(wan)石(shi)。東(dong)(dong)南貢賦,歲(sui)億萬(wan)計,市民(min)(min)所需,則不(bu)可悉數,概由此(ci)河(he)運(yun)(yun)京(jing)(jing)。