永(yong)通(tong)橋(qiao)是(shi)(shi)(shi)通(tong)惠河(he)(he)(he)上的(de)(de)(de)重(zhong)要橋(qiao)梁,史稱(cheng)它是(shi)(shi)(shi)“陸運京(jing)儲(chu)之(zhi)通(tong)道(dao)(dao)”。永(yong)通(tong)橋(qiao)是(shi)(shi)(shi)北京(jing)四大(da)(da)名橋(qiao)之(zhi)一(yi)。坐落在(zai)古老的(de)(de)(de)通(tong)惠河(he)(he)(he)上,因距(ju)通(tong)縣(xian)城西八里(li),故(gu)俗(su)稱(cheng)“八里(li)橋(qiao)”或(huo)“八里(li)莊橋(qiao)”,而其原名卻鮮為人(ren)知(zhi)了(le)。河(he)(he)(he)北趙縣(xian)也有(you)橋(qiao)名永(yong)通(tong)橋(qiao)。永(yong)通(tong)橋(qiao)正(zheng)是(shi)(shi)(shi)在(zai)這樣一(yi)條十(shi)(shi)分重(zhong)要和(he)著名的(de)(de)(de)漕河(he)(he)(he)上建造的(de)(de)(de)一(yi)座大(da)(da)型(xing)石(shi)拱橋(qiao)。史稱(cheng)它是(shi)(shi)(shi)“陸運京(jing)儲(chu)之(zhi)通(tong)道(dao)(dao)”。石(shi)橋(qiao)的(de)(de)(de)前身是(shi)(shi)(shi)座木(mu)橋(qiao),因通(tong)惠河(he)(he)(he)坡度較大(da)(da)、河(he)(he)(he)水湍急。常將(jiang)這里(li)原建的(de)(de)(de)木(mu)橋(qiao)沖毀,影響交通(tong),因此(ci)(ci)有(you)內宮太監(jian)李德奏(zou)(zou)于明英宗(zong),建議于此(ci)(ci)地建石(shi)橋(qiao),英宗(zong)準奏(zou)(zou),正(zheng)統十(shi)(shi)一(yi)年十(shi)(shi)二月石(shi)橋(qiao)竣工,英宗(zong)賜名“永(yong)通(tong)橋(qiao)”。石(shi)橋(qiao)的(de)(de)(de)建成,不僅解決了(le)交通(tong),控制了(le)洪水,還為古老的(de)(de)(de)通(tong)惠河(he)(he)(he)增加了(le)一(yi)個(ge)美麗壯觀(guan)的(de)(de)(de)景點。所謂“長橋(qiao)映月”正(zheng)是(shi)(shi)(shi)通(tong)州(zhou)八景之(zhi)一(yi)。
八(ba)里橋(qiao)的(de)(de)(de)造(zao)(zao)型極為(wei)特殊。中(zhong)孔(kong)特高(gao),高(gao)達八(ba)點(dian)(dian)五(wu)米,寬六點(dian)(dian)七米,兩次孔(kong)僅高(gao)三點(dian)(dian)五(wu)米,相差懸殊。這種構造(zao)(zao)是(shi)(shi)專為(wei)漕運的(de)(de)(de)需要(yao)設計的(de)(de)(de)。通(tong)(tong)惠河運糧船(chuan)多為(wei)帆船(chuan),如建(jian)造(zao)(zao)普通(tong)(tong)形(xing)式(shi)拱橋(qiao),勢必阻(zu)礙漕船(chuan)的(de)(de)(de)航(hang)行,為(wei)此(ci)古代工(gong)匠將(jiang)橋(qiao)的(de)(de)(de)中(zhong)孔(kong)建(jian)造(zao)(zao)得相當高(gao)聳,漕船(chuan)可直(zhi)出(chu)直(zhi)入,圓滿地(di)解決了(le)這一難題。所謂“八(ba)里橋(qiao)不落桅(wei)”正是(shi)(shi)指此(ci)。
八里橋(qiao)(qiao)地處(chu)交通(tong)(tong)要沖,戰(zhan)略上(shang)是兵家必爭之地。歷(li)史(shi)上(shang)這里曾進行過兩次(ci)(ci)大規模的(de)(de)中(zhong)外戰(zhan)爭。第(di)一次(ci)(ci)為咸豐十年(1860),中(zhong)國官軍與英法侵略軍交戰(zhan)。第(di)二次(ci)(ci)為光緒二十六(liu)年(1900),義(yi)和團與八國聯軍在此展開了激烈(lie)戰(zhan)斗。永(yong)通(tong)(tong)橋(qiao)(qiao)不僅具有(you)十分珍貴(gui)的(de)(de)歷(li)史(shi)、科學(xue)和藝術價(jia)值(zhi),而(er)且還是近代史(shi)上(shang)的(de)(de)重(zhong)要紀(ji)念建筑(zhu)。
通(tong)(tong)(tong)惠河是(shi)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)至元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)二(er)十(shi)七(1290)春(chun)由都水監郭守敬(jing)主持(chi)開鑿的(de)一(yi)條重要人工(gong)河道。此河“上自(zi)昌(chang)平(ping)白(bai)浮村引神山泉,西折南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)轉,過(guo)雙塔榆(yu)河、一(yi)畝、玉泉清(qing)水,至西水門(men)入都城(cheng),南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)匯為積水潭(tan),東南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)出(chu)文明門(men),東至通(tong)(tong)(tong)州高麗莊入白(bai)河。總長一(yi)百(bai)(bai)(bai)六(liu)十(shi)四(si)(si)里一(yi)百(bai)(bai)(bai)四(si)(si)步”。北(bei)(bei)京(jing)地處北(bei)(bei)方,物資較為貧乏,眾多物資多從南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)方運(yun)來,特別是(shi)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)定都北(bei)(bei)京(jing)后,這種情況更為突(tu)出(chu)。雖(sui)開辟了海運(yun)、但損(sun)耗(hao)過(guo)大,如至元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)二(er)十(shi)年(nian)(1283)歲運(yun)四(si)(si)萬(wan)(wan)六(liu)千多石糧,漂溺損(sun)耗(hao)者至四(si)(si)萬(wan)(wan)二(er)千多石,而且糧食運(yun)到通(tong)(tong)(tong)州后,再通(tong)(tong)(tong)過(guo)陸路運(yun)送到北(bei)(bei)京(jing)城(cheng),糧多路遠,運(yun)糧兵民(min)苦不堪(kan)言,至元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)三十(shi)年(nian)(1293)通(tong)(tong)(tong)惠河工(gong)竣,“自(zi)是(shi)免(mian)都民(min)陸挽之(zhi)(zhi)勞,公私便之(zhi)(zhi),帝自(zi)上都還,過(guo)積水潭(tan),見舳艫蔽水,大悅(yue),賜名通(tong)(tong)(tong)惠。”及至明朝,通(tong)(tong)(tong)惠漕(cao)(cao)運(yun)干道,東南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)之(zhi)(zhi)粟,年(nian)漕(cao)(cao)已(yi)到數(shu)百(bai)(bai)(bai)萬(wan)(wan)石。東南(nan)(nan)(nan)(nan)貢賦(fu),歲億(yi)萬(wan)(wan)計(ji),市(shi)民(min)所需,則不可悉數(shu),概由此河運(yun)京(jing)。