COMPANYHISTORIES
SIC 1611

Highway and Street Construction

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

25companies1875–1975founding years23still active1no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedHochtief AG
1875
FoundedGranite Rock Company
1900
FoundedTarmac plc
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedJ.A. Jones, Inc.
1920
FoundedFluor Corporation
1924
FoundedBechtel Group, Inc.
1925
FoundedRMC Group p.l.c.
1930
1931
EconomyThe Empire State Building rises in just over a year.
FoundedL'Entreprise Jean Lefebvre
1934
1937
EconomyThe Golden Gate Bridge opens as the world's longest suspension span.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedBalfour Beatty plc
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedSundt Corp.
1946
FoundedEmpresas ICA Sociedad Controladora, S.A. de C.V.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedURS Corporation
1950
FoundedBouygues S.A.
1952
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedThe Washington Companies
1964
FoundedBFC Construction Corporation
1969
FoundedNew World Development Company Limited
1970
FoundedBRISA Auto-estradas de Portugal S.A.
1972
FoundedBilfinger & Berger AG
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Hochtief AG →
Active · founded 1875 · Germany
Hochtief AG is the German market leader in the construction industry and is among the world's leading international…
Granite Rock Company →
Active · founded 1900
The largest U.S.-owned and -managed construction materials supplier in northern California, Granite Rock Company…
Tarmac plc →
Active · founded 1903 · United Kingdom
Tarmac plc is one of the leading heavy building materials and construction services groups in Europe, with additional…
Walbridge Aldinger Co. →
Active · founded 1916
Walbridge Aldinger Co.
J.A. Jones, Inc. →
Active · founded 1920
J.A.
Fluor Corporation →
Active · founded 1924
Mid-1980s:Fluor divests all of its oil properties, some gold operations, and all its offshore drilling facilities.
Bechtel Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1925
Bechtel Group, Inc.
Colas S.A. →
Active · founded 1929 · France
France's Colas S.A.
RMC Group p.l.c. →
Renamed · founded 1930 · United Kingdom
RMC Group p.l.c.
L'Entreprise Jean Lefebvre →
Active · founded 1934 · France
France's l'Entreprise Jean Lefebvre is engaged in highway construction, services, and maintenance, and related…
Peter Kiewit Sons' Inc. →
Active · founded 1941
Peter Kiewit Sons' Inc.
Balfour Beatty plc →
Active · founded 1945 · United Kingdom
Late 19th century:Callender's Cable and Construction Co.
Sundt Corp. →
Active · founded 1946
A major general contractor in the United States and abroad, Tucson-based Sundt Corp.
Empresas ICA Sociedad Controladora, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1947 · Mexico
Empresas ICA Sociedad Controladora, S.A.
Cianbro Corporation →
Active · founded 1949
Although Cianbro Corporation is one of the smaller construction firms in the United States, its influence on trends…
URS Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1950
Ranked number one on ENR's list of the top U.S.
Bouygues S.A. →
Active · founded 1952 · France
Bouygues S.A.
Grupo Ferrovial, S.A. →
Active · founded 1952 · Spain
Grupo Ferrovial, S.A.
The Washington Companies →
Active · founded 1964
The Washington Companies is an association of distinct business entities owned by Dennis R.
BFC Construction Corporation →
Active · founded 1969 · Canada
BFC Construction Corporation is one of Canada's largest construction companies.
New World Development Company Limited →
Active · founded 1970 · Hong Kong
Since its founding in 1970, New World Development Company Limited has been a leader in Hong Kong's bustling commercial…
VECO International, Inc. →
Active · founded 1971
VECO International, Inc.
BRISA Auto-estradas de Portugal S.A. →
Active · founded 1972 · Portugal
BRISA Auto-estradas de Portugal S.A.
Bilfinger & Berger AG →
Active · founded 1975 · Germany
Bilfinger Berger AG operates as the second-largest general contractor in Germany, just behind competitor HOCHTIEF AG.
Parsons Brinckerhoff, Inc. →
Active · founded 1975
Parsons Brinckerhoff, Inc.
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