This paper is focused on the torsional effects that are induced on bridge piers by unbalanced wind buffeting on the deck during double cantilever erection stages. The case of decks with variable cross section is considered in particular as this characteristic is typical of most frame bridges that are built by the cantilever method. The procedure outlined in the paper is basically an application of the method that Dyrbye and Hansen (1996) have illustrated for decks with constant cross section. This format was chosen because it is suitable for design purposes and may easily be implemented in structural codes. As a complement, the correspondence with the format that is adopted in the Canadian code (NBCC 1990) for the gust factor is established, which might be useful to bridge designers used to the North-American approach to the gust effects on structures. Only alongwind turbulence and horizontal movements of the deck are considered. The combination of torsional and bending effects is also discussed and it is illustrated with an example of application.