Compared　with　far-field　earthquake　records,　near-fault　earthquake　records　contain　long-period　components　and　large　velocity　pulses　which　can　lead　to　more　severe　seismic　damage　of　flexible　bridges.　Continuous　viaducts　are　a　common　type　of　bridge　and　suffer　more　if　they　are　close　to　seismic　faults.　Seismic　vulnerability　analysis　was　conducted　on　a　typical　four-span　continuous　viaduct　subjected　to　near-fault　and　far-field　earthquake　record　inputs.　Subsequently,　a　shaking　table　test　was　conducted　to　obtain　dynamic　responses　of　the　viaduct　under　typical　near-fault　earthquake　excitations.　The　analysis　results　showed　that　the　vulnerability　under　near-fault　earthquake　excitations　with　velocity　pulses　was　higher　than　that　under　far-field　or　design　seismic　record　inputs.　For　seismic　vulnerable　analysis　of　bridge　systems　the　damage　measures　of　piers　and　bearings　should　be　taken　into　consideration　synthetically.　The　shaking　table　test　also　showed　that　the　tested　dynamic　response　subject　to　typical　near-fault　earthquake　records　was　higher　than　that　subject　to　far-field　or　artificial　earthquake　records.　©　2018,　Engineering　Mechanics　Press.　All　right　reserved.