COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 234110

Highway and Street Construction

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

14companies1924–1975founding years12still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedFluor CorporationFoundedFluor Corporation
1924
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
FoundedRMC Group p.l.c.FoundedRMC Group p.l.c.
1930
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedBalfour Beatty plcFoundedBalfour Beatty plc
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedGrupo Ferrovial, S.A.FoundedGrupo Ferrovial, S.A.
1952
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedNew World Development Company LimitedFoundedNew World Development Company Limited
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
FoundedBRISA Auto-estradas de Portugal S.A.FoundedBRISA Auto-estradas de Portugal S.A.
1972
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
FoundedBilfinger & Berger AGFoundedBilfinger & Berger AG
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
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
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
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

Fluor Corporation →
Active · founded 1924
Mid-1980s:Fluor divests all of its oil properties, some gold operations, and all its offshore drilling facilities.
Fluor Corporation →
Active · founded 1924
Mid-1980s:Fluor divests all of its oil properties, some gold operations, and all its offshore drilling facilities.
RMC Group p.l.c. →
Renamed · founded 1930 · United Kingdom
RMC Group p.l.c.
RMC Group p.l.c. →
Renamed · founded 1930 · United Kingdom
RMC Group p.l.c.
Balfour Beatty plc →
Active · founded 1945 · United Kingdom
Late 19th century:Callender's Cable and Construction Co.
Balfour Beatty plc →
Active · founded 1945 · United Kingdom
Late 19th century:Callender's Cable and Construction Co.
Grupo Ferrovial, S.A. →
Active · founded 1952 · Spain
Grupo Ferrovial, S.A.
Grupo Ferrovial, S.A. →
Active · founded 1952 · Spain
Grupo Ferrovial, S.A.
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…
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…
BRISA Auto-estradas de Portugal S.A. →
Active · founded 1972 · Portugal
BRISA Auto-estradas de Portugal S.A.
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.
Bilfinger & Berger AG →
Active · founded 1975 · Germany
Bilfinger Berger AG operates as the second-largest general contractor in Germany, just behind competitor HOCHTIEF AG.
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