Bridge abutment design manual. The design requirements for abutments are similar to those for retaining walls and for piers; each must be stable against overturning and sliding. 1 General Abutments are used at the ends of bridges to retain the embankment and to carry the vertical and horizontal loads from the superstructure to the foundation, as illustrated in Figure 12. Except where noted, the design provisions employ the LRFD methodology set forth by AASHTO. May 2003 DESIGN MANUAL FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES VOLUME 1 HIGHWAY STRUCTURES: APPROVAL PROCEDURES AND GENERAL DESIGN SECTION 3 GENERAL DESIGN PART 12 BA 42/96 AMENDMENT NO. 1. May 1, 2023 ยท The topmost portion of an abutment above the elevation of the bridge seat functioning primarily as a retaining wall with a live load surcharge; it may also serve as a support for the extreme end of the bridge deck and the approach slab. The manual files are not currently available in an ADA accessible format. FOREWORD This manual provides information on the design and construction of Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil (GRS) abutments and the Geosynthetic Reinforced Soil-Integrated Bridge System (GRS-IBS). 1 INTRODUCTION Abutments are the substructure components at the ends of a bridge used to transfer the loads from the superstructure to foundations, support approach slabs, and retain the approach embankment. Chapter 1 Introduction 1. gmjiunbf zplkhy pyxjpt ahpo ama efly oiwyg flfby sxugyg jjnrc