A　novel　built-in　elastomeric　pad　was　incorporated　into　the　plastic　hinge　zone　of　precast　bridge　columns　with　grouted　corrugated　duct　connection　to　improve　its　seismic　performance.　Appropriate　energy　dissipation　and　minimal　local　concrete　damage　are　expected　in　the　innovative　precast　reinforced　concrete　(RC)　columns.　Four　1/4-scaled　bridge　column　specimens　were　designed　and　tested　under　constant　axial　compression　force　and　cyclic　lateral　loads　to　evaluate　the　feasibility　and　effectiveness　of　the　proposed　concept.　Detailed　experiment　results　were　compared　and　discussed.　The　testing　results　showed　that　the　main　seismic　index　of　precast　RC　bridge　columns　with　grouted　metal　corrugated　duct　connection　was　similar　to　that　of　the　cast-in-place　bridge　columns.　It　was　also　found　that　the　precast　RC　column　with　a　built-in　elastomeric　pad　in　the　plastic　hinge　zone　effectively　minimized　local　concrete　damage　at　the　bottom　of　bridge　columns　and　increased　the　energy　dissipation　capacity.　The　laminated　elastomeric　pad　is　recommended　to　be　applied　in　the　precast　bridge　column　to　maintain　necessary　initial　stiffness　and　energy　dissipation　capacity　and　to　avoid　lateral　bulge　of　single　thick　rubber.　Excessive　buckling　and　shear　deformations　of　longitudinal　rebars　should　be　prevented　by　inserting　a　rectangular　or　square　steel　tube　at　the　center　of　the　elastomeric　pad.