We have studied the field behaviour of the abutments of 15 bridges which abutments have experienced horizontal movements. These abutments were founded on piles through a soft layer. For all these structures, the piles have been installed before the approach embankments were built or as soon as they were built.Considering the structural characteristics of the piles and the compressibility and geometry of the soft layer, the conditions for which such movements of the abutments are likely to occur are given. When the abutments are of the type built at mid-height of the embankment, an upper limit for the horizontal movement of the abutment is proposed. Several solutions are suggested to avoid the movements of abutments.