宋(song)政和(he)三(san)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1113年(nian)(nian)(nian)),太平(ping)寺僧人惠(hui)鄙、守恩等(deng)倡議造(zao)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),后鄉人林(lin)(lin)遷(qian)、林(lin)(lin)霸(ba)、陳侈、僧人妙覺等(deng)繼(ji)續募緣建造(zao),于宋(song)宣(xuan)和(he)六年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1124年(nian)(nian)(nian))建成(cheng)。初名(ming)螺江(jiang)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)。南宋(song)紹興三(san)十(shi)年(nian)(nian)(nian)(1160年(nian)(nian)(nian)),少卿(qing)林(lin)(lin)栗根據“江(jiang)南沙合接(jie)龍(long)首”的古(gu)(gu)讖語,更(geng)名(ming)為(wei)“龍(long)江(jiang)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)”。 龍(long)江(jiang)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)是座梁式結構的石(shi)(shi)(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),上(shang)(shang)至(zhi)石(shi)(shi)(shi)欄和(he)獨具匠心的橫(heng)鋪(pu)石(shi)(shi)(shi)板(ban),下至(zhi)填(tian)基架梁,均以石(shi)(shi)(shi)為(wei)材。現龍(long)江(jiang)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)有40孔,孔徑(jing)9~13米(mi)(mi),橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)寬4.2~5.2米(mi)(mi),全長476米(mi)(mi)。橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)墩(dun)(dun)高6米(mi)(mi),成(cheng)舟形(xing),兩分水尖間(jian)長為(wei)10米(mi)(mi),墩(dun)(dun)寬3.3~4.2米(mi)(mi)。6條石(shi)(shi)(shi)梁并排(pai)鋪(pu)設在(zai)(zai)墩(dun)(dun)頂帽石(shi)(shi)(shi)上(shang)(shang)。石(shi)(shi)(shi)梁寬60~75厘米(mi)(mi),厚60~90厘米(mi)(mi),每(mei)條石(shi)(shi)(shi)梁約重(zhong)15噸。在(zai)(zai)石(shi)(shi)(shi)梁之上(shang)(shang)再橫(heng)鋪(pu)石(shi)(shi)(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)板(ban)。這(zhe)在(zai)(zai)古(gu)(gu)代石(shi)(shi)(shi)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)中并不多見(jian)。大橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)加上(shang)(shang)小(xiao)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)總(zong)長700多米(mi)(mi),氣勢雄偉(wei)壯觀(guan)。橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)南還(huan)建造(zao)鎮橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)塔2座,分列左右,塔七級六角。
龍江橋歷史久遠,由于(yu)洪水(shui)、颶風、海潮的(de)頻頻襲擊(ji),自明嘉靖二十三年(1544年)至民國的(de)400年間,累代修葺,可考(kao)的(de)有10數次(ci)(ci),平均每二、三十年大(da)修一(yi)次(ci)(ci)。當地(di)紳(shen)衿、耆民為(wei)表其(qi)功績,立(li)碑(bei)紀念,石(shi)碑(bei)現仍(reng)立(li)在橋頭。共和國成立(li)后,政府(fu)多次(ci)(ci)撥款維修,先后把第(di)六、七、二十六孔的(de)木橋面改修為(wei)石(shi)橋面,石(shi)梁斷(duan)折亦隨毀(hui)隨修。1961年5月,列為(wei)福(fu)建省第(di)一(yi)批重點(dian)文物(wu)保護單位。