Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Emergency
services
Your Trusted Heavy Civil Construction Partner in Williston, VT
Founded in 1965, we are a family-owned heavy civil construction company with decades of expertise in technical projects requiring precision and specialized equipment. Our workforce prioritizes safety, quality, and environmental responsibility while delivering asphalt paving, railroad construction, trenchless technology, and complex infrastructure solutions. As a 100% employee-owned company, we combine generational knowledge with cutting-edge engineering to meet aggressive schedules in challenging conditions. Our safety program includes daily job hazard analyses, OSHA-certified training, and weekly corporate safety meetings led by executive leadership. With headquarters in Williston, Vermont, we serve municipal, industrial, and energy clients across the Northeast through services like horizontal directional drilling, deep foundations, and renewable energy projects.Our reputation for solving difficult technical challenges has earned recognition including the AGC-VT Best Builder Award and Vermont Engineer of the Year honors for our leadership. We maintain rigorous certifications in crane operation, confined space management, and hazardous materials handling to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations. Our fleet includes heavy equipment for earthmoving, concrete construction, and pipeline installation, supported by in-house engineering teams for design-build solutions. Through charitable giving and sustainable practices, we remain committed to community impact and environmental stewardship in every project we undertake.
Services
Asphalt Paving
Railroad Construction
Trenchless Technology
Horizontal Directional Drilling
Ground Anchors
Electrical Substations
Heavy Demolition
Concrete Construction
Deep Foundations
Renewable Energy Projects
Details
- Year established: 1965
Highlights and features
- We have over 55 years of experience in heavy civil construction
- Our workforce holds OSHA 10- and 30-hour safety certifications
- We operate specialized equipment for complex technical projects
- Our leadership team includes certified crane operators and engineers
- We maintain 100% employee ownership for dedicated service
Services
Asphalt Paving
Our asphalt paving division utilizes an extensive fleet of paving and compaction equipment to install durable pavement mats. We specialize in municipal roadways, industrial sites, and airport aprons with precision grading and material compaction. Our crews maintain certifications in asphalt mix design and temperature-controlled installation for optimal longevity.
Railroad Construction
We provide full-service railroad construction including track rehabilitation, signal systems, and bridge replacements. Our expertise covers Class I railroad standards with specialized crews trained in FRA Track Safety Standards. We've completed complex projects like the East Alburgh Bridge swing span automation and Ryegate Culvert replacement under active rail lines.
Trenchless Technology
Our trenchless division specializes in horizontal directional drilling (HDD) since 1998, including 1,200-ft gas pipeline installations. We employ auger boring and pipe ramming techniques for minimal surface disruption in urban environments. Recent projects include culvert replacements under railroads without service interruption using microtunneling methods.
Renewable Energy Projects
We construct renewable energy systems including 2.2MW solar arrays for the Vermont National Guard and 100kW wind turbines at Rock of Ages quarry. Our capabilities span site preparation, foundation work, and electrical substation integration for solar, wind, and hydroelectric facilities with utility-grade specifications.
Bridge Construction
Our bridge division handles replacements, rehabilitations, and new construction using precast concrete and steel superstructures. We engineered the Hartford Bridge direct fixation system and performed emergency repairs on the North Hero-Grand Isle draw bridge. Projects incorporate seismic retrofitting and long-term durability enhancements for challenging environmental conditions.
People
Ben Dow
Chief Executive Officer / President
Ben Dow leads ECI's strategic direction while maintaining active involvement in safety leadership through weekly corporate safety meetings. With decades of construction industry experience, he oversees project execution and company operations from the Williston headquarters.
Ken Pidgeon
Chair of the Board of Directors
Ken Pidgeon, Vermont Engineer of the Year 2025, provides technical oversight and maintains the company's engineering legacy since joining the family business founded in 1965. He focuses on complex project solutions and safety culture development.
Jim McNall
Vice President - Paving
Jim McNall manages ECI's asphalt paving division with expertise in material specification and equipment optimization. He ensures quality control across municipal and industrial paving contracts while maintaining industry-standard compaction metrics.
Ben MacKinney
Vice President - Heavy Civil and Rail
Ben MacKinney oversees railroad construction projects including track systems and bridge rehabilitations. With specialized knowledge of FRA safety standards, he manages complex rail infrastructure work while maintaining operational timelines for active transportation corridors.
Mark Peloquin
Senior Project Manager
Mark Peloquin coordinates multidisciplinary projects requiring integrated engineering solutions. He manages design-build processes from concept through completion, ensuring technical accuracy and adherence to safety protocols for challenging infrastructure assignments.
Questions
What construction services does ECI specialize in?
We specialize in asphalt paving, railroad construction, trenchless technology, horizontal directional drilling, and renewable energy projects using specialized equipment for complex technical challenges.
Is ECI available for emergency construction projects?
Yes, we provide 24/7 emergency response for critical infrastructure repairs including railroad rehabilitation and bridge superstructure emergencies.
What safety certifications does ECI hold?
Our team maintains OSHA 10- and 30-hour certifications, confined space supervision training, and specialized credentials in crane operation and hazardous materials handling.
Where does ECI operate?
Headquartered in Williston, Vermont, we serve clients across Vermont, New Hampshire, and the broader Northeast region for heavy civil construction projects.
Is ECI employee-owned?
Yes, we transitioned to 100% employee ownership in 2023, aligning our team's dedication with client project success through shared ownership.
Reviews (3)
Staci Nichols
Oct 17, 2021
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Critical: Professionalism It would be nice, and morally responsible if they informed businesses BEFORE they close off the only entrance to their business. Which I have asked multiple times.im glad someone is making money, because I'm losing it.
Rebecca Robbins Bushway
May 07, 2021
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ECI gave us a Great New Driveway! Our old driveway was an uneven patchwork and a bit of an eyesore. ECI helped us take it out and start fresh with a beautiful, smooth and wider driveway. Not only does it look great, but No More Tandem Parking! Their team was very professional and friendly. I couldn't be more pleased. Highly recommend!
Alain Brunet
Dec 16, 2020
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There was a puddle of water after tthe 1st rain. We told them about it. They came, teared up the pavement, re graded everything to our satisfaction and at no cost to us. This company is amazing.
