Bridge substructures consists of elements that support

the superstructure (deck, structural members and

railing of a bridge), and includes the following:

Piles: Load-bearing steel members driven deep into

the ground at footing locations to stabilize the

footing foundation. Piles transmit loads from

substructure units down to underlying rock layers.

Footings: Large blocks of reinforced concrete that

provide a solid base for the substructure and anchor

the substructure against lateral movements.

Footings serve to transmit loads borne by the

substructure to the underlying foundation material.

Abutments: Structures that support the extreme

ends of the bridges and confine the embankment,

allowing the embankment to be back-filled to grade

with the planned bridge deck.

Wing Wall: A short section of wall at an angle to a

bridge abutment, used as a retaining wall and to

stabilize the abutment.

Pier: Structure providing intermediate support

when a bridge is too long to be supported by

abutments alone.

Seat: The shelf on the face of a bridge abutment

that supports the end of the steel span.

I-84 Waterbury Project ▪ Bridge Substructure Elements

Center Pier; Harpers Ferry

Road Bridge

Wing Walls

Piles Driven for Abutment 2 Footing; I-84 Bridge

Bridge Abutment; Harpers

Ferry Road Bridge

Bridge Abutment 2; EB 25 Off Ramp Bridge

Bridge Abutment 1; EB 25 Off Ramp Bridge

Abutment 1; I-84 Bridge

Bridge Seat for Steel

(Superstructure) Placement