Bridge Rehabilitation Environmental Remediation Case Study: Managing Contaminated Soil During a $24 Million Infrastructure Project

Jul 1, 2026

Bridge Rehabilitation Environmental Remediation Case Study
How EBI Managed Contaminated Soil, Hazardous Materials, and Regulatory Compliance During a $24 Million Bridge Rehabilitation Project

Environmental challenges can quickly disrupt bridge rehabilitation and transportation infrastructure projects. Unexpected contaminated soil, hazardous materials, or regulatory requirements can delay construction, increase costs, and create safety risks if they are not addressed quickly.

During a $24 million bridge rehabilitation project for a major state transportation authority, contaminated soil discovered beneath the bridge’s northern approach required immediate environmental investigation, remediation planning, hazardous waste characterization, and regulatory coordination before construction could safely continue.

EBI partnered with the project’s general contractor to provide comprehensive environmental consulting services throughout the project. By integrating site investigation, environmental remediation, contaminated soil management, hazardous waste disposal, air monitoring, and construction environmental oversight, EBI helped keep the project moving while protecting workers, the public, and the surrounding environment.

Project Snapshot

Project
Bridge Rehabilitation for Major State Transporation Authority

Industry
Transportation Infrastructure

Services

  • Environmental Site Investigation
  • Environmental Remediation
  • Hazardous Waste Characterization
  • Regulatory Compliance
  • Air Monitoring
  • Construction Environmental Oversight

Project Value
$24 Million

Duration
18 Months of Environmental Support During a 3-Year Construction Project

Results at a Glance

18 Months
Environmental consulting and construction support throughout a three-year bridge rehabilitation project.
3,750 Cubic Yards
Excavated soil successfully characterized, managed, and documented.
2,831 Tons
Contaminated material safely removed and transported to approved disposal facilities.
100% Regulatory Compliance
Environmental activities completed in accordance with applicable state and federal regulations throughout construction.

background

EBI partnered with the project’s general contractor to support the rehabilitation of a major bridge owned by a state transportation authority. The project required extensive excavation beneath the bridge’s northern approach to facilitate structural improvements and long-term infrastructure upgrades.

As excavation began, environmental investigations identified multiple contaminants exceeding state and federal regulatory standards. Construction activities could not proceed until contaminated materials were properly investigated, characterized, and managed.

Like many aging transportation infrastructure projects, historic fill materials and legacy contamination presented environmental risks that required specialized remediation planning, regulatory coordination, and ongoing field oversight.

The Challenge

The bridge rehabilitation project required relocation of approximately 3,750 cubic yards of soil to support construction activities.

Environmental investigations identified several complex issues, including:

  • Asbestos-containing material (ACM)
  • Petroleum-impacted soil
  • Elevated concentrations of regulated metals
  • Lead concentrations that classified portions of excavated soil as characteristic hazardous waste

These conditions required an integrated environmental solution that would:

  • Protect worker health and public safety
  • Maintain compliance with state and federal environmental regulations
  • Properly characterize and manage contaminated materials
  • Minimize disruption to the construction schedule
  • Coordinate documentation and communication with environmental regulators

EBI's Solution

EBI developed and implemented a comprehensive environmental management strategy tailored to the project’s construction schedule and regulatory requirements.

Working closely with the general contractor and state environmental agencies, EBI evaluated both in-situ and ex-situ remediation alternatives, coordinated required regulatory notifications, and prepared the environmental documentation necessary to support safe excavation, contaminated soil management, and hazardous waste disposal.

Services Provided:

  • Environmental Site Investigation
  • Environmental Remediation
  • Excavated Materials Management
  • Hazardous Waste Characterization
  • Environmental Regulatory Coordination
  • Air Monitoring
  • Construction Environmental Oversight
  • Health and Safety Planning
  • Soil Characterization
  • Environmental Compliance Support
Strategic Approach

EBI prepared and implemented a comprehensive suite of project-specific environmental plans, including:

  • Excavated Materials Management Plan
  • Health and Safety Plan (HASP)
  • Soil Pre-Characterization Plan
  • Release Abatement Measure (RAM) Plan
  • Asbestos Work Plan

Throughout excavation activities, EBI directed remediation efforts, coordinated transportation and disposal of contaminated materials at approved facilities, and conducted continuous dust and asbestos air monitoring to protect workers, nearby communities, and the environment.

The project team also provided ongoing environmental documentation, regulatory coordination, and field oversight to ensure construction activities remained compliant while supporting project progress.

Results

Regulatory Compliance Maintained
EBI coordinated required notifications with state environmental agencies and managed remediation activities in accordance with applicable environmental regulations. Continuous oversight helped the project maintain regulatory compliance throughout construction.
Safe Management of Contaminated Materials
Approximately 2,831 tons of asbestos-impacted and hazardous materials were safely characterized, transported, and disposed of at approved facilities while protecting workers, nearby communities, and the surrounding environment.
Environmental Risks Successfully Managed
By integrating environmental consulting directly into construction operations, EBI helped reduce environmental risk, streamline contaminated material management, and support uninterrupted progress on this critical transportation infrastructure project.
Construction Schedule Supported
Early environmental planning, proactive regulatory coordination, and responsive field support enabled the contractor to address unforeseen environmental conditions efficiently while minimizing potential impacts to the overall construction schedule.

Why Environmental Remediation Matters During Bridge Rehabilitation

Bridge rehabilitation projects frequently involve excavation around bridge approaches, abutments, foundations, and adjacent roadway infrastructure. Older transportation corridors often contain historic fill, petroleum contamination, asbestos-containing materials, heavy metals, or hazardous waste that must be properly investigated before construction can proceed.

Comprehensive environmental consulting—including contaminated soil management, hazardous waste characterization, remediation planning, air monitoring, and regulatory compliance—helps transportation agencies and contractors reduce project risk, protect workers, and avoid costly construction delays.

The EBI Advantage

Infrastructure owners, contractors, and public agencies depend on EBI to solve complex environmental challenges that arise during transportation and heavy civil construction projects.

Our multidisciplinary team combines environmental site investigation, remediation planning, hazardous materials management, regulatory compliance, industrial hygiene, and construction-phase environmental oversight to help clients respond quickly when unforeseen environmental conditions threaten project schedules.

Whether supporting bridge rehabilitation, highway reconstruction, utility infrastructure, or other complex construction projects, EBI delivers practical environmental solutions that help clients:

  • Maintain regulatory compliance
  • Manage contaminated soil and hazardous materials safely
  • Protect workers and surrounding communities
  • Reduce environmental risk
  • Support efficient project delivery
  • Keep critical infrastructure projects moving forward

Frequently Asked Questions

What environmental issues are common during bridge rehabilitation projects?
Bridge rehabilitation projects often encounter contaminated soil, asbestos-containing materials, petroleum impacts, heavy metals, hazardous waste, groundwater contamination, and historic fill that require environmental investigation and regulatory oversight before construction can continue.
What is excavated materials management?
Excavated materials management is the process of characterizing soil, determining appropriate handling and disposal methods, preparing regulatory documentation, and coordinating transportation to approved treatment or disposal facilities while maintaining environmental compliance.
Why is environmental consulting important during bridge construction?
Environmental consultants help contractors identify contamination, comply with environmental regulations, protect workers and the public, coordinate remediation activities, and minimize costly construction delays.
What environmental services does EBI provide for transportation infrastructure projects?
EBI provides environmental site investigation, environmental remediation, contaminated soil management, hazardous waste characterization, regulatory coordination, air monitoring, industrial hygiene, environmental compliance, and construction environmental oversight for transportation and infrastructure projects.

Key Project Highlights

$24 Million
Bridge rehabilitation project
18 Months
Environmental consulting support
3,750 Cubic Yards
Excavated soil characterized and managed
2,831 Tons
Contaminated material safely removed and disposed
Comprehensive environmental planning and remediation

Continuous air monitoring and worker protection

State and federal regulatory compliance maintained throughout construction

Integrated environmental support that helped keep construction moving

Need Environmental Support for Your Next Infrastructure Project?

Unexpected environmental conditions don’t have to delay construction. EBI helps transportation agencies, contractors, and infrastructure owners navigate contaminated soil, hazardous materials, environmental remediation, regulatory compliance, and construction-phase environmental challenges with confidence.

Contact EBI to learn how our environmental consulting experts can help keep your next infrastructure project on schedule and in compliance.

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