How are foundations and abutments built for a typical beam overpass?

For a typical beam overpass, the construction of foundations and abutments begins with the casting of concrete footings. In locations where the soil is determined to be especially weak, engineers drive wooden or steel piles into the ground to provide the necessary support for these footings.12

Once the concrete footings are prepared, the pier and abutments are constructed. The superstructure—consisting of steel or concrete beams—is only erected after these concrete elements have hardened sufficiently to support the load. These supports are critical to the bridge's integrity, as they carry vertical loads from the beams down to the foundations through compression.123