McLean Contracting Company

What McLean Contracting Company does

McLean Contracting Company is a 100% Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) heavy civil and marine construction contractor founded in 1903 and headquartered in Glen Burnie, Maryland. The company delivers bridges, piers, bulkheads, marine terminals, dredging, and underwater construction services for state Departments of Transportation (MDTA, VDOT, NCDOT), federal agencies (US Navy, NAVFAC, US Army Corps of Engineers, Maryland Port Administration), municipal governments, and select industrial clients primarily across the Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas. Disclosed individual project values range from approximately $48M to $463M, with the latter being the Nice-Middleton Bridge Replacement design-build joint venture with Skanska, Kokosing, and AECOM spanning the Potomac River.

The company operates through six integrated divisions: Heavy Civil Marine Construction (core bridge, pier, bulkhead, heavy lift, and pile driving work), a Diving Division (underwater construction, inspection, and wire sawing), a Dredging Division (mechanical and hydraulic dredging with disposal managed through Port Weanack), a Traffic Infrastructure Division (ITS, signalization, and lighting), Smith Brothers (marine equipment rental and charter acquired 2019), and Shugart Manufacturing (sectional barge and steel fabrication acquired 2021). Underlying technology is asset-heavy rather than software-driven: 12 floating whirley cranes (35-250 ton capacity), 15 crawler cranes (70-275 ton), 4 dredges, and 86+ acres of waterfront facilities including the Port Weanack Marine Terminal with 1,000,000+ cubic yards of remaining dredge material capacity. Proprietary safety programs (Behavior-Based Safety, Human and Organizational Performance) underpin a safety record with EMR and TRIR metrics significantly below industry average.

The business model is project-based revenue through competitive bidding, best-value selection, and joint venture arrangements with government and industrial clients. Pricing varies by scope and contract type, with billing cadences spanning multi-year project schedules. Revenue streams span one-time construction contracts, usage-based marine equipment rental, hardware sales (Shugart fabricated barges and steel components), and professional services (commercial diving and dredging). McLean pursues work through direct enterprise field sales relationships rather than channel intermediaries, leveraging 120+ years of brand equity, an ESOP-aligned workforce with multi-decade tenure, and 100+ year banking and bonding relationships to compete for the largest design-build awards in its region.

Name

McLean Contracting Company

Legal name

McLean Contracting Company

Website

https://mcleancontracting.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1903

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

McLean Contracting Company is a 100% ESOP heavy civil and marine construction contractor serving state DOTs, federal agencies, and industrial clients across the Mid-Atlantic through six integrated divisions spanning bridges, dredging, diving, traffic infrastructure, and marine equipment manufacturing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heavy Civil Marine Construction

NAICS

Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction (237990), Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction (237), Utility System Construction (2371)

SIC

Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600), Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700), Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Subsea & Nearshore Civil Works (Trenching, Rock Placement, Mattressing) (IMAFAJAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Works General Contracting (IMAFAAAG), Roadbuilding & Paving Equipment Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAB)

Keywords

• Heavy civil construction
• Marine construction services
• Bridge construction
• Dredging services
• Commercial diving services

Headquarters

HQ city

Chesapeake

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Heavy Civil Marine Construction Projects: McLean generates revenue through lump-sum, design-build, and joint venture construction contracts for heavy civil marine infrastructure projects including bridges, piers, bulkheads, and marine terminals. Projects range from millions to hundreds of millions of dollars.
2. Smith Brothers Marine Equipment Rental: Revenue from rental and charter of marine equipment including specialty and sectional barges, tugboats, crew boats, cranes, and related support equipment. Also provides towing services, marine salvage, and custom barge fabrication and repairs.
3. Shugart Manufacturing: Revenue from design, fabrication, and production of sectional barges, barge propulsion units, screeds, barge ramps, and custom steel components. Also offers equipment rental and repair services. Achieved AISC Certified Fabricator status in early 2025.
4. Commercial Diving Services: Diving Division provides underwater construction, inspection, wire sawing, and salvage services both as standalone projects and integrated with marine construction. Services include underwater structural repairs, pipeline crossings, and vessel hull repairs.
5. Dredging Services: Dredging Division performs mechanical and hydraulic dredging operations with focus on shallow water, channel, and harbor dredging. Manages disposal through Port Weanack facility. Services short-tow disposal projects and environmental remediation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

McLean Contracting Company is a heavy civil and marine construction contractor that builds, replaces, and maintains bridges, piers, bulkheads, marine terminals, transmission line water crossings, and traffic infrastructure for government and industrial clients across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States. The company operates six divisions covering heavy civil marine construction, commercial diving, dredging, traffic/ITS installation, marine equipment rental, and steel barge fabrication, and self-performs design-build, lump-sum, and joint venture contracts ranging from single-digit millions to $463 million.

Product overview

McLean Contracting Company operates as a unified heavy civil marine construction enterprise comprising six integrated divisions: the core Heavy Civil Marine Construction Division providing bridge, pier, and bulkhead construction; the Diving Division offering underwater construction and inspection services; the Dredging Division handling shallow-water dredging operations; and the Traffic Infrastructure Division delivering ITS, lighting, and signing solutions. Two acquired subsidiaries—Smith Brothers Marine Equipment Rental (acquired 2019) and Shugart Manufacturing (acquired 2021)—provide vertical integration through marine equipment rental/charter and barge fabrication respectively. The divisions collaborate interdivisionally, enabling McLean to leverage specialized equipment and capabilities across projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Smith Brothers: Marine equipment rental and charter services including specialty and sectional barges, tugboats, crew boats, cranes, and related support equipment, as well as marine towing services.
• Shugart Manufacturing

Products and services

• Heavy Civil Marine Construction Core heavy civil marine construction services covering heavy pier and bulkhead construction and demolition, marine and land-based highway and railroad bridges, heavy lift operations, marine demolition and salvage, moveable bridges, transmission line water crossings, utility crossings, outfalls and diffusers, design-build solutions, industrial maintenance and repair, pile driving, and precast and segmental erection for government and industrial clients.
• Diving Division Specialized underwater construction, inspection, and demolition services including underwater structural repairs, underwater sawcutting, FRP jacket repair, concrete crack injection repair, pipeline and utility crossings, salvage and heavy lift, underwater inspections, underwater demolition, vessel and hull repair, underwater burning and welding, diver dredging, and core drilling and wire sawing.
• Dredging Services Mechanical and hydraulic dredging operations including shallow water, creek, channel, and harbor dredging, short-tow disposal projects, and environmental remediation, with transloading, spoil treatment, remediation, and final disposal managed through the Port Weanack Disposal Facility.
• Traffic Infrastructure Traffic signage, signalization, lighting, and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) work including highway and under-bridge lighting, CCTV cameras, fiber optic cabling, weigh stations, tolling systems, message signs, rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFB), loop and microwave detection, and traffic signal system upgrades for state DOTs and municipal clients.
• Smith Brothers Marine Equipment Rental Marine equipment rental and charter services covering specialty and sectional barges, tugboats, crew boats, cranes, and related support equipment, with additional towing services, marine salvage, and custom or spec barge fabrication and repairs for commercial and government clients.
• Shugart Manufacturing Design, fabrication, and production of sectional barges, barge propulsion units, screeds, barge ramps, and custom steel components for bridge construction and marine projects, with additional equipment rental and repair services. Operates from Chester, South Carolina, and achieved AISC Certified Fabricator status in early 2025.

Quantifiable outcome

• Safety lagging metrics significantly below industry average (EMR and TRIR metrics maintained)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RK&KcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering firm partner on Perquimans River Swing Span Bridge Replacement project. McLean assembled team of experts including RK&K for successful delivery of this complex design-build project.
• Hardesty & HanovercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering partner on Perquimans River Swing Span Bridge Replacement project providing design expertise for the historic swing span bridge replacement.
• Branch CivilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Perquimans River Swing Span Bridge Replacement project contributing to the design-build team assembled by McLean.
• SkanskacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partner with Kokosing on $463M Harry W. Nice/Thomas 'Mac' Middleton Bridge Replacement project spanning the Potomac River.
• KokosingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partner with Skanska on the Nice-Middleton Bridge Replacement project. McLean was part of this joint venture team.
• AECOMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead design services partner for Nice-Middleton Bridge Replacement project providing design services for the joint venture team.
• E.V. WilliamscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManaging partner for 4-way joint venture team on Dominion Blvd Improvements project in Chesapeake, VA including replacement of twin bascule bridge with high rise bridges.
• RR DawsoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partner with E.V. Williams leading the Dominion Blvd Improvements project with McLean as managing partner.
• Bryant ContractingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partner on Dominion Blvd Improvements project bringing local contractor expertise to the team.
• Moffatt & NicholcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering design partner on multiple projects including Berth IV Seagirt Marine Terminal, Berth B Reconstruction, and Coal Pier Construction. Long-standing design-build partnership relationship.
• American BridgecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partner on Pier 11 Replacement Norfolk Naval Station project - best value contract to deliver state of the art double decker concrete carrier pier.
• RK&KcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign partner on US13/US158 Widening R-2507A Design Build project near Winton, NC as part of EV Williams lead team.
• Port Tobacco Weanack Land CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTerminal operating agreement partner for dredge material treatment and disposal at Port Weanack Marine Terminal facility on the James River in Charles City County, VA. McLean operates this facility since 2018.
• Rappahannock Preservation SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to permit and construct two oyster reef sites in the Rappahannock River using salvaged concrete deck slabs from Robert O. Norris Bridge reconstruction.
• City of Ocean City, MarylandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMcLean donated transport services to deposit materials in the Atlantic for artificial reef creation, supporting environmental stewardship initiatives.
• James River AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting mission to protect and preserve the James River. Partnership advances water quality initiatives, habitat restoration, and educational programs.
• Maryland Department of Natural ResourcesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for constructing artificial reef sites in the Chesapeake Bay under direct supervision of MD DNR.
• Virginia Marine Resources CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for constructing artificial reef sites in Chesapeake Bay tributaries and Atlantic Ocean under direct supervision of VMRC.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kokosing Construction Company: Kokosing is a privately held heavy civil and industrial contractor active in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest, and is McLean's JV partner on the $463M Nice-Middleton Bridge. Direct comparable on large DOT bridge pursuits.
• American Bridge Company: American Bridge is a heavy marine and bridge construction firm specializing in complex bridge and pier projects, and is a current JV partner with McLean on the Norfolk Naval Station Pier 11 Replacement. Direct overlap on signature marine infrastructure work.
• Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation: Great Lakes is the largest U.S. dredging services provider and a publicly traded marine contractor that performs harbor deepening, land reclamation, and coastal protection. Highly relevant as a peer to McLean's dredging division and Port Weanack disposal operation.
• Orion Marine Group: Orion is a publicly traded heavy civil marine contractor providing construction services for marine transportation, infrastructure, and energy projects across the U.S., directly comparable to McLean's marine terminal, pier, bulkhead, and bridge-over-water work.
• Weeks Marine: Weeks is a privately held heavy civil and marine contractor with dredging, pile driving, and marine infrastructure capabilities concentrated in the U.S. East Coast and Gulf. Comparable to McLean on marine terminal, bridge, and dredging work in the Mid-Atlantic.
• Manson Construction Co. Manson is a privately held marine construction and dredging contractor operating on the U.S. East, Gulf, and West Coasts. Overlaps with McLean on marine infrastructure, levee, and dredging projects for federal and port clients.

Broad incumbents

• Skanska USA Civil: Skanska is a large global construction group with a major U.S. civil practice that pursues billion-dollar heavy civil and marine bridge projects, including JV work alongside McLean. Compares as a broader, larger incumbent in the same state DOT bidding pool.
• Kiewit Infrastructure: Kiewit is one of the largest privately held heavy civil contractors in North America with deep resources to pursue mega-bridge, marine, and transportation projects. Comparable as a broad incumbent competitor for federal and state heavy civil procurements.
• Granite Construction Incorporated: Granite is a publicly traded large-cap heavy civil contractor with bridge, marine, and transportation infrastructure work across the U.S. A broader incumbent competing with McLean for DOT and federal bridge and marine contracts in the Eastern U.S.
• Walsh Construction / Walsh Group: Walsh is a large privately held heavy civil and building contractor competing on DOT bridges and transportation infrastructure across multiple U.S. regions. Comparable as a larger broad incumbent in the same heavy civil bidding pool.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mcleancontract
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@McLeanContractingCompany
• Facebookfacebook.com/mcleancontract
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mcleancontracting
• Instagraminstagram.com/mcleancontractingcompany

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about McLean Contracting Company