The　fixed-pier　of　continuous　bridges　almost　bear　all　the　longitudinal　seismic　load　under　strong　earthquakes,　which　can　cause　damage　of　the　fixed-pier.　In　order　to　solve　the　above　structural　defects　of　continuous　bridges,　the　locking　dowel　was　designed　and　installed　between　the　sliding　piers　and　girder　to　share　the　longitudinal　seismic　load　with　the　fixed-pier　and　improve　the　seismic　performance　of　continuous　bridges.　Considering　that　the　longitudinal　stiffness　of　piers　was　different　in　irregular　continuous　bridges,　the　seismic　control　of　irregular　continuous　bridges　with　locking　dowel　was　studied　for　the　reasonable　use　of　the　seismic　bearing　capacity　of　each　sliding　pier.　The　finite　element　model　was　built　based　on　a　seven-span　irregular　continuous　bridge,　and　the　seismic　response　on　irregular　continuous　bridge　with　locking　dowel　was　analyzed.　Based　on　the　principles　that　the　lateral　stiffness　of　each　sliding　pier　is　similar　and　that　the　ultimate　bearing　capacity　of　each　locking　dowel　is　equivalent,　the　seismic　control　of　irregular　continuous　bridge　was　optimized　through　adjusting　the　connection　stiffness　and　ultimate　bearing　capacity　of　locking　dowel.　The　results　show　that　the　seismic　performance　of　irregular　continuous　bridge　can　be　significantly　improved　by　setting　the　locking　dowel　between　its　main　beam　and　sliding　piers,　but　the　low　pier　undertakes　more　seismic　load.　Adjusting　the　connection　stiffness　and　ultimate　bearing　capacity　of　locking　dowel　effectively　changes　the　seismic　load　on　each　sliding　pier　and　avoids　damage　of　low　pier,　which　can　help　the　piers　to　collaboratively　bear　the　longitudinal　seismic　force.　©　2017,　Central　South　University　Press.　All　right　reserved.