M.J. Lee Construction Expands Bridge Building Operations; Acquires Southern Pavers, Inc.

TULSA, Okla. – Tulsa-based M.J. Lee Construction Co., a subsidiary of Rooney Holdings, Inc., has expanded its operations with the acquisition of Southern Pavers, Inc. Originally formed in 1981, Southern Pavers provides bridge-building services to central Arkansas from its Pine Bluff, Ark., location.

M.J. Lee’s acquisition of Southern Pavers includes all assets and operations. Southern Paver’s founder Randy McNulty will continue to manage the Pine Bluff location, now known as M.J. Lee Construction Company –  Southern Pavers Division. Approximately 50 employees work in this division.

This acquisition expands M.J. Lee’s geographical reach into the growing bridge construction market in Arkansas where the public sector is expected to have a substantial funding increase, said M.J. Lee President, Ken Adams.

Founded in 1956, M.J. Lee provides bridge construction services in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas. With the recent acquisition, the company now has 136 employees and three locations. M.J. Lee President Ken Adams oversees overall company operations from the company’s corporate office in Tulsa, Okla. Also, from this location M.J. Lee Vice President Todd Saxton manages Oklahoma area operations. Division offices include the Northwest Arkansas Division in Rogers, Ark., managed by David Love, and now the Southern Pavers Division in Pine Bluff, Ark., managed by Randy McNulty.

According to the 2007 revised Arkansas State Highway Needs Study and Highway Improvement Plan, there is $1.6 billion in bridge construction and repair needed over the next ten years on Arkansas State Highways alone. The Arkansas State Highway department has identified 1,257 bridges on the State Highway System as substandard and in need of replacement or rehabilitation.

In addition to the highway system need, there is expanding opportunity in local municipality and privately funded bridge construction projects.