companies

United Contractors Midwest, Inc.

On June 5th, 2001, three of the largest heavy and highway construction companies in downstate Illinois combined to form United Contractors Midwest, Inc. R.A. Cullinan & Son, Inc., Illinois Valley Paving Co., and Freesen Inc. in combination have over 190 years of business history. UCM was organized to enhance and enable the company to compete on ever larger projects in the highway industry while still focusing on our traditional markets. While all three companies had asphalt capabilities each brought particular expertise in different types of construction. IVP is a premier, large project concrete paver and has capabilities in pavement profiling. Freesen has major bridge and structure capabilities coupled with extensive earthmoving capacity. R.A Cullinan has considerable underground capabilities and aggregate operations. This combination allows the blending of expertise along almost every avenue of heavy and highway construction.

UCM operates extensively in the states of Illinois and Missouri but has completed large projects in Arkansas, Tennessee, Indiana, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Kentucky. UCM has major capabilities in asphalt production and paving, concrete production and paving, earthmoving, excavation, pavement profiling and grinding, aggregates, bridges and structures, and underground work. UCM operates from offices in the Metropolitan areas of Peoria, Bloomington, Decatur, and Springfield, Illinois and Osage Beach, Missouri.

R.A. Cullinan & Son, Inc.

R.A. Cullinan and Son has been in the highway construction business since it was organized in 1913. The company is located in Tremont, Illinois, and services the Peoria metropolitan area. R.A. Cullinan has become a respected industry leader in asphalt paving, aggregate production, concrete paving, subdivision construction, and underground work. A third generation family business, R.A. Cullinan has been involved in many significant projects over the years. The team of R.A. Cullinan and Freesen Inc. performed over $150 million of construction on I-155 in central Illinois which was completed in 1992. Almost 1.1 million tons of asphalt was placed in the construction of this 25 mile full depth asphalt project. R.A. Cullinan has received several top paving awards in asphalt and concrete paving from the Illinois Department of Transportation throughout the years. R.A. Cullinan acquired Rowe Construction Co. in 1964, Peoria Blacktop in 1996, and the Seneca Petroleum’s Peoria asphalt operation in 1999. The reputation for commitment to quality and performance has always been of utmost importance to the success of R.A. Cullinan.

Rowe Construction Co.
a division of R.A. Cullinan & Son, Inc.

Rowe Construction was acquired by R.A. Cullinan in 1964 and operates in the Bloomington/Normal area. Rowe has been involved in many large projects over the years including $30 million of construction surrounding a local Diamond Star facility. The company has also performed extensive work on I-39 and presently is completing two projects totaling some $80 million in the Bloomington metro area. Rowe’s specializes in asphalt paving, concrete paving, aggregates production, and underground work for both private and public construction projects in the Central Illinois region.

Freesen, Inc.

Freesen Bros. was started in 1946 by Bob and Roy Freesen in Bluffs, Illinois and became Freesen Inc. in 1972. Starting with one bulldozer, Freesen Inc. has become one of the largest earthmoving fleets in the Midwest. Freesen Inc. has performed virtually all types of heavy and highway construction with the current emphasis on earth and rock excavation and bridge construction. Freesen operates throughout the Midwest from offices located in Springfield, Illinois and in Osage Beach, Missouri. Freesen Inc. has completed extensive projects for various highway departments including completing a $22 million project on Route 71 in Missouri. In addition, Freesen has completed many private sector projects including landfill cell construction, utility cooling ponds, golf course construction, and mine reclamation projects. There is no job large or small that Freesen is not able to complete safely and efficiently to the customers’ satisfaction.

Illinois Valley Paving Co.

Illinois Valley Paving Company was originally founded in 1963 in Bluffs, Illinois as Illinois Valley Asphalt Company, specializing in asphalt paving. The name was changed in the early ‘70s as the company started performing concrete paving. Subsequently, in 1977 the company was purchased by James P. Bruner. Shortly thereafter, the offices were moved to just outside of Winchester, Illinois. The company has grown by purchasing Capitol Asphalt in 1979 and Medusa Aggregates in 1980 and Sankey Construction in 1998. In addition to asphalt and concrete paving and production, Illinois Valley Paving Company specializes in curb and gutter, roto milling, and oil and chip work. IVP has performed large-scale highway and airport projects throughout the Midwest, including a $55 million project in Memphis, Tennessee. Throughout the years, IVP has been recognized and honored by several State Transportation Departments by receiving frequent quality awards for asphalt and concrete paving. Illinois Valley Paving Company strives for excellence by providing the customer with the best quality and service possible, while treating all customers with respect and showing appreciation to all who choose to do business with us.