Abutment and Pier Construction

Abutments and piers are the primary support structures for bridge decks and carry all imposed loads.
Construction involves deep excavations, piling, reinforcement fixing, formwork, and concrete pours.
Working near or over live traffic, railways, or waterways is common during abutment construction.
Temporary works including formwork, falsework, and propping must be designed and checked before erection.
Rebar fixing in tall abutments requires working at height with fall protection measures.
Concrete pours for abutments can be large volume and may take many hours to complete.
Ground conditions at pier locations may require piled foundations and dewatering systems.
Cofferdams or sheet piling may be needed where piers are located in watercourses.
Monitoring of adjacent structures and highways is required where works are close to existing infrastructure.
Formwork striking must only occur when concrete has achieved the specified strength.

Structural safety	Abutments and piers carry the full weight of the bridge — construction defects can lead to catastrophic collapse.
Working at height	Tall abutment walls and pier columns create significant fall-from-height risks for steel fixers and formwork teams.
Complex hazards	Multiple simultaneous hazards including excavations, lifting, concrete, and traffic must be managed together.

Do

Don't

Erect temporary works to approved designs checked by the TWC before loading
Install fall protection for all work on abutment walls and pier columns
Brief crews on the planned sequence for excavation, rebar, formwork, and pour
Coordinate traffic management or rail possessions before working near live routes
Monitor ground conditions and dewatering systems throughout construction
Confirm concrete cube strength before authorising any formwork striking
Use exclusion zones and banksmen during lifting operations at pier locations
Inspect cofferdams and sheet piling daily when working in or near water
Record all temporary works inspections in the site register
Ensure access platforms provide safe working positions for all trades

DON'T strike formwork before the concrete has reached the required strength
DON'T load temporary works beyond the design capacity at any stage
DON'T fix reinforcement at height without harnesses or working platforms
DON'T pour concrete without confirming the formwork has been inspected and approved
DON'T work over live traffic or railways without agreed protection measures
DON'T ignore water ingress into excavations — maintain dewatering at all times
DON'T allow unauthorised modifications to formwork or falsework systems
DON'T enter cofferdams without checking the rescue plan and atmospheric conditions
DON'T store materials on access scaffolds unless the design permits additional loading
DON'T skip daily inspections of temporary works during the construction phase

See also: Bridge Construction Safety Awareness | Formwork Erection and Striking

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