bridge pier; pontoon bridge
Refers to the supporting structure of a bridge, either a fixed pier or a floating pontoon. The pontoon bridge sense is less common in modern usage.
The bridge pier was washed away by the flood.
This bridge has sturdy piers.
They erected bridge piers on the riverbed for the new bridge.
The bridge pier collapsed in the earthquake, and the bridge was closed to traffic.
An accident occurred in which a cargo ship crashed into a bridge pier.
Construction work was carried out to reinforce the bridge piers against earthquakes.