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The Portal North Bridge Project

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Background

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For over a century, the original Portal Bridge has served as a critical connection between New Jersey and New York along the Northeast Corridor.

A Modern Infrastructure Solution

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The new Portal North Bridge (PNB) is a modern, fixed-span bridge that improves reliability and supports future growth in one of the nation’s busiest rail corridors.

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The PNB is part of a region-wide program that aims to increase trans-Hudson commuter rail capacity, accommodate projected ridership growth from rail lines west of the Hudson River, allow rehabilitation of the existing North River Tunnels, and improve system safety and reliability along the existing and expanded Northeast Corridor.

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Watch this time-lapse of the Portal North Bridge's progress from December 2022 through March 2026.

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Environmental Engineering in Action

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Beyond structural upgrades, the PNB required extensive environmental coordination across a complex, historically industrial corridor. The PNB project gave BEM a strong opportunity to showcase its capabilities as a truly full-service environmental firm.

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BEM supported the client in every facet of the project's environmental needs, from site assessments to property acquisitions and negotiations, permit preparation and procurement, construction plans and engineering designs, and current support for compliance during construction. BEM also used this critical project to deploy software solutions, such as Forms On Fire for construction monitoring documentation and the Project Management Dashboard (PMDB®), to help the client access all project information on a single platform, including a module for real-time air monitoring during construction.

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Since 2008, BEM Systems has played a key role in providing environmental support, including:

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Preliminary assessments and corridor-wide site investigations
Management strategies for contaminated materials, including chromium ore processing residue (COPR)
Preparation of materials management plans (MMP), contract drawings, and engineering specifications

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Permit procurement — SE/SC, construction dewatering, Army Corps, waterfront development, discharge permits
Compliance monitoring during construction, including perimeter air monitoring

Material tracking and management — up to 30,000 tons of hazardous hexavalent chromium soils and over 100,000 tons of non-hazardous historic fill-impacted soils tracked and managed from cradle to grave
PMDB® dashboard for construction progress monitoring and real-time air monitoring updates

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Delivering Long-Term Impact

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Once complete, the Portal North Bridge will provide:

More reliable commuter service

Increased rail capacity

Reduced system-wide delays

By replacing a 100-year-old bridge with resilient, forward-looking infrastructure, this project is helping modernize the Northeast Corridor and strengthen regional mobility for decades to come, and BEM is honored to have played a critical role in its success.

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