A Family-Owned Construction Company That Spans Generations
Our journey began in 1924 when one young man, H. B. “Pat” Zachry, took on a $40,000 contract to build a single bridge in Laredo, Texas with little more than a few rented mules and a bold vision for the future. That first project, the inharmoniously named but memorable Bridge #2, Job 240D, Highway 12A, did not return a profit, but it revealed the daring spirit and tenacity that would come to define our company. Undeterred, Mr. Pat wrote a letter to himself vowing to “dream and to build.” Guided by his belief in pursing “opportunity, not security” and finding joy in hard constructive work, he built Zachry into a company poised for growth by 1929.
More than a century later and after 6,000-plus projects, that same spirit continues to shape who we are. As a third-generation, family-owned construction company, we have evolved from one bridge in South Texas into an organization that builds infrastructure around the world, connecting communities and enhancing people’s lives. Yet, the principles at the heart of our work remain unchanged: partnership, respect and purpose. Our history is more than a record of where we’ve been, it is the foundation that helps us unearth greater opportunity, deliver enduring quality and build what comes next.
“I want to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed — never to be numbered among those weak and timid souls who have known neither victory nor defeat. I know that happiness can come only from the inside through hard constructive work and sincere positive thinking.”
– H. B. Zachry, Founder
A Century of Enduring Quality
1924
1924
H.B. Zachry begins the company’s first project: a bridge in Laredo, Texas.
H. B. Zachry wins a contract from the Texas Highway Department for a bridge outside Laredo, north of Highway 359, which he builds using mule-drawn wagons. Today, the same agency, now known as the Texas Department of Transportation, continues to be one of our most valued customers. During the 1920s, H.B. Zachry was an “unknowing” pioneer of the Design-Build Project Delivery Method. His company slogan: Creative Imagination, Courage and the Will and Skill to Work Are the Priceless Ingredients of Progress.
1931
Randolph Field Repavement, now the Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas
H. B. Zachry Company’s first big job for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) involved paving streets for the new Randolph Field built near San Antonio. The professional relationship with USACE carries on today.
1935
Logwood Building, San Antonio, Texas
Zachry acquires approximately 29 acres of land and two large buildings in San Antonio and moves operations from Laredo. These strategic moves, buying land and buildings during the Great Depression, demonstrated Zachry’s foresight, optimism and imagination.
1942
Hondo Airfield Project, Hondo, Texas
H. B. Zachry transformed a farmer’s field into a complete, self-sufficient airbase and air navigation school in just 90 days for the USACE. It included water wells, utilities, paved streets, concrete runways, hangars, barracks, shops, chapels, a theater, a hospital, classrooms and officers’ quarters.
1943
First Comprehensive Safety Program
In 1943, nearly 30 years before the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) began operations, Zachry implemented the first comprehensive safety program. “Safety First” quickly became the credo that percolated down to every level of the workforce, and it continues to do so today.
1950
First “Big Inch” Pipeline, Tennessee and Kentucky
When three contractors quit work on a 73-mile pipeline for the Texas Eastern Pipeline Company in the difficult terrain of Tennessee and Kentucky, H. B. Zachry was asked to finish the job, ultimately laying 95 miles of 30-inch pipeline for the project.
1952
Zachry moves its headquarters from Laredo to San Antonio, Texas.
On June 23, 1952, the H. B. Zachry Company moved its headquarters from Laredo to 527 Logwood Avenue in San Antonio, fueling growth in the San Antonio metropolitan area, which had a population of just over 500,000 in 1950.
1957
Bergstrom Air Force Base Runway Project, Austin, Texas
H. B. Zachry Company won a contract to rebuild the runways for the U.S. Air Force. The runways were three feet thick, requiring 460,000 cubic yards of concrete. H. B. Zachry purchased a local aggregate company, believing it more advantageous for him to produce his own aggregates for this runway project. Thus, Capitol Aggregates was formed.
1957
Zachry incorporates Capitol Aggregates, Texas
On March 27, 1957, Capitol Aggregates was incorporated as a subsidiary of the H. B. Zachry Company to facilitate the supply of construction materials across South, Central and West Texas and support Zachry projects like the Bergstrom airbase.
1959
Kwajalein and Roi-Namur Atoll, Anti-Missile Site, Marshall Islands
H. B. Zachry Company’s first major project overseas was building the Nike Zeus testing facilities for the USACE. The joint venture with the Pacific Construction Company and Reed & Martin marked the beginning of nearly $250 million in work on the island through 1984.
1960
1961
Atlas ICBM Project, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas
H. B. Zachry Company and Brown & Root Inc. completed 12 Atlas missile silos for the USACE and U.S. Air Force near Abilene, Texas. With 9-foot-thick walls, the silos and control centers were built to be virtually impenetrable.
1962
Pucallpa Highway to Aguaytía, Peru
Contracted to build 60 miles of highway through mountainous terrain and dense jungles of the Peruvian Amazon, H. B. Zachry Company faced a range of challenges like heavy rains, language barriers and political instability. After a military coup in 1968 led to months of nonpayment, H. B. Zachry Company shut down the job, and the military confiscated all the equipment.
1962
Embalse La Paloma Dam, Ovalle, Chile
After the experience gained on the Kwajalein antimissile project in the South Pacific, H. B. Zachry decided he was ready to establish a business specifically for work in foreign countries. In August 1961, Zachry International Incorporated was organized to bid work in South America. Zachry International’s first project was the Embalse Paloma Dam in Chile.
1963
Capitol Cement production begins, San Antonio, Texas
Capitol Aggregates purchased a former lithium plant and its surrounding land. Two years later, Capitol’s cement plant was fully operational with the capacity to produce approximately 188,000 tons of cement annually.
1964
President Henry B. Zachry, Sr. Retires
In 1964, H. B. Zachry made a public announcement that he would step down, following his company’s policy that officials are to give up their executive positions at age 65.
1965 – 1986
H. B. “Bartell” Zachry, Jr. Becomes President
The Board of Directors name H. B. “Bartell” Zachry, Jr. President of the H. B. Zachry Company. With a civil engineering degree from Texas A&M University and years of on-the-job training, he served as president until his father’s death, when Bartell became chairman of the board and chief executive officer.
1965
Devil’s River Bridge, Val Verde County, over Lake Amistad, Del Rio, Texas
This innovative project used a cableway system to erect steel and place concrete. A concrete set retardant was used, allowing for a continuous deck pour that eliminated construction joints—saving time and labor, and contributing to a safer work environment.
1965
Sattahip Airfield, Thailand
H. B. Zachry Company joined Dillingham Corporation and Kaiser Construction in a joint venture to build a complete U.S.–Thai airbase. Zachry built the airfield, runway, taxiways, aprons, fuel pipeline and 1 million barrels of fuel storage for one of the world’s most strategically important military bases at the time.
1965
José Cabrera Nuclear Power Station, Spain
The 160-MW station with a pressurized water reactor was H. B. Zachry Company’s first venture in Europe and Spain’s first nuclear power plant. This job would pave the way for the company’s continued involvement in power generation and nuclear energy.
1967
Hilton Palacio del Rio Hotel, San Antonio, Texas
The company’s first modular construction project, this 21-story, 496-room hotel was built in a record 202 working days in preparation for the first World’s Fair, Hemisfair 1968, in San Antonio. Room modules were precast and fully furnished, then delivered to the site. The American Society of Civil Engineers named H. B. Zachry Engineer of the Year for the accomplishment. Zachry Hospitality, an affiliate of Zachry Construction, continues to own and operate this hotel to today.
1971
1972
Zachry Underground Utility Services (ZUUS) is established
Zachry Underground Utility Services was formed to deliver high value utility installations under the most extreme conditions, serving developers, healthcare, higher education, government, transportation and utility providers.
1973
Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, Texas
H. B. Zachry Company and South Prairie Construction Company were contracted to pave two 11,400-foot-long runways and four 100-foot-wide taxiways as well as parking and service areas. On May 31, 1973, the team set a world record one-day pour, earning Engineering News-Record honors.
1974
Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, Brooks Range, Alaska
In a joint venture, H. B. Zachry Company built sections five and six of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, 223 miles from Prudhoe Bay to the Brooks Range. Despite harsh weather, permafrost and temperatures near -75°, H. B. Zachry Company finished the job efficiently and on time.
1974
Lavon Dam, Wylie, Texas
On the Trinity River located in East Texas, H. B. Zachry Company and the USACE invented a way to reposition and reuse the dam’s tainter gates, and all other mechanical equipment, when they raised the dam structure by 13.5 feet. This was another of H. B. Zachry Company’s many technological innovations.
1974
Missi Falls Hydroelectric Dam, Manitoba, Canada
The Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board hired H. B. Zachry Company to build a control structure at Missi Falls on the Churchill River. Crews handled concrete work and rock excavation, using ice roads to haul workers and materials 180 miles to the remote site.
1976
Storm and Sanitary Sewer Lines, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
In a joint venture, H. B. Zachry Company installed storm and sanitary sewer lines for Riyadh, the Saudi capital. The team worked through complex government approvals, unfamiliar local customs and shifting regulations to get the job done.
1980
Fratt Interchange, North Loop 410 and I-35, San Antonio, Texas
This reconstruction of the North Loop 410/I-35 interchange was Texas’ largest highway contract at the time. By using a “reinforced-earth system” to build retaining walls, H. B. Zachry Company could cut work time by 10-20 percent and finish nearly a year ahead of schedule.
1988
Raleigh-Durham Airport Taxiway, Raleigh, North Carolina
H. B. Zachry crews built the airport taxiway, moving 320,000 cubic yards of dirt and rock, installing airfield lighting and constructing two bridges requiring 1.2 million pounds of structural steel. Crews finished in just over a year.
1989
I-75/I-20 Interchange, Atlanta, Georgia
H. B. Zachry Company and Gilbert Corporation collaborated in a joint venture to rebuild 1.5 miles of downtown Atlanta freeway. The contract included 27 bridges, 31 retaining walls and more.
1995
Conversion of Bergstrom Air Force Base to Bergstrom Airport, Austin, Texas
The U.S. Air Force hired H. B. Zachry Company to ready Bergstrom Air Force Base for its future as an airport. Crews built a 4,000-foot concrete taxiway over an existing apron, finishing on time and under budget. Austin-Bergstrom now ranks among the nation’s top airports.
1996
Reconstruction of the United States Embassy in Moscow, Russia
When H. B. Zachry Company rebuilt the U.S. Embassy in Moscow in a joint venture in 1996, security drove every decision. The project called for an all-American staff and top-secret clearance for every employee and piece of material. The work earned a nomination for the State Department’s Award for Corporate Excellence in 2000.
1996
West Dam at Diamond Valley Reservoir, Hemet, California
In a joint venture with Washington and Atkinson Construction, H. B. Zachry Company built the 1.5-mile-long, 285-foot-high West Dam. It was the country’s largest earthmoving project and involved moving 70 million cubic yards of earth for the dam embankment, adding 800,000 acre-feet of water storage. Excavation even unearthed rare paleontological finds, which are now displayed at the Western Science Center near the lake.
1997
2002
High Five US-75 & IH-635 Interchange, Dallas, Texas
TxDOT hired Zachry to build their largest project at the time, the first five-level interchange in Dallas known as the High Five. The $289 million job included 43 bridges covering 2.3 million square feet, with 630 columns and 690,000 square yards of concrete paving. Zachry ran a 101-ton erector that was the first of its kind to be used in the U.S. and finished a year early, earning multiple awards.
2003
2007
Texas State Highway 130 Toll Road (SH-130), Texas
Zachry American Infrastructure invested equity into TxDOT’s first toll concession project for the construction of segments five and six of State Highway 130, which extends from Georgetown to Seguin. The 41-mile road runs parallel to I-35, giving drivers a faster route around the crowded Austin-San Antonio corridor.
2008
United States Embassy, Beijing, China
The construction of the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China, marked another major international project for Zachry. The 580,000-square-foot complex spanning ten acres was one of the largest diplomatic construction projects in U.S. history. As in Moscow, top-secret security protocols guarded every step of the project.
2008
Company Reorganization — David Takes the Lead
As Zachry’s footprint expanded and projects grew in scale and complexity, the company began a restructuring process to better align with the markets it served. Zachry emerged from that process as two distinct and unaffiliated entities: Zachry Corporation, led by David Zachry, and Zachry Holdings, Inc. led by John Zachry.
2013
High-Speed Rail, Fresno, California
Aiming to modernize U.S. transportation, the California High-Speed Rail Authority awarded the joint venture partners of Zachry/Tutor Perini/Parsons with a $985 million contract to construct the Central Valley portion of this ambitious bullet train project. The project included a 1.7-mile trench through Fresno, a 1.2-mile viaduct, three major bridges and tunnel construction below California State Route 180.
2013
The Grand Parkway SH 99, Houston, Texas
As lead joint venture partner, Zachry Construction took on its first billion-dollar project: 37.8 miles of four-lane, controlled-access toll roads, bridges and three major interchanges. Full-depth reclamation with foamed asphalt, a method of rehabilitating existing pavement, reduced materials and truck trips yielding a cost saving in the millions. At the time, the project was the largest ever undertaken by TxDOT, achieving the shortest completion time per mile.
2014
Tobin Center for the Performing Arts Building, San Antonio, Texas
Bexar County, San Antonio, Texas
Zachry Construction and a joint venture partner renovated the historic 1926 Municipal Auditorium, preserving its Spanish-Colonial façade while adding a modern, acoustically enhanced hall. The 183,000-square-foot venue features a River Walk entrance and a mechanized floor system that reconfigures seating within minutes.
2018
Embassy Suites Hilton Landmark, San Antonio, Texas
Zachry Construction built this modern Texas Hill Country-style hotel to grow Zachry Hotels’s portfolio, including 9,600 square feet of event space. The property went on to earn multiple honors within the hospitality industry, including the 2023 Connie Award and 2022 San Antonio Hotel and Lodging Association Hotel of the Year.
2019
US 281 Expansion — Stone Oak/Tournament Players Club, San Antonio, Texas
TxDOT awarded Zachry Construction the $178.3 million Phase 2 expansion of US 281 in March 2019. The team widened 4.8 miles of non-tolled roadway to 10 lanes, adding frontage roads and high-occupancy vehicle lanes. Crews finished in July 2023, well ahead of schedule.
2021
Loop 1604 Phase 2 Expansion — I-10 to US 281, San Antonio, Texas
In a joint venture partnership, Zachry Construction broke ground on eight new non-tolled lanes and two high-occupancy vehicle lanes. The Diverging Diamond Interchange at Loop 1604 and Blanco Road improves safety and is expected to double the intersection’s traffic capacity.
2021
Sam Houston Tollway Ship Channel Bridge, Channelview, Texas
After delays due to the project’s redesign, Zachry Construction and a joint venture partner resumed work in December 2021 on this $1.3 billion cable-stayed suspension bridge. Its design eliminates the need for pylon structures and clears room for ongoing channel dredging. Substantial completion is expected in 2028.
2024
Zachry Celebrates its 100th Year Anniversary
In 2024, Zachry marked its centennial — 100 years of building landmark projects across Texas and beyond, honoring a century of family leadership, craftsmanship and commitment to community.
2025
2025
Zachry Forms Arcline Ready Mix, South Texas Region
Zachry’s Arcline Equity Holdings acquired Jarco ReadyMix and its six South Texas batch plants, forming Arcline Ready Mix. The new concrete subsidiary strengthens Zachry’s supply chain across commercial, residential and infrastructure work.
2025
Zachry Construction Acquires Crescent Constructors, Plano, Texas
Zachry Construction acquired Crescent Constructors, a Plano, Texas-based firm that builds water and wastewater treatment plants, lift stations, reservoirs and conveyance systems. The acquisition adds specialized expertise and expands Zachry’s capabilities in the growing water and wastewater infrastructure sector.
2026
Roosevelt Memorial Bridge, Lake Texoma, Oklahoma
Zachry Construction, working alongside a joint venture partner, secured the Roosevelt Memorial Bridge project for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, establishing a new regional presence in the Midwest.
Explore More About Zachry
Our Commitment
Driven by values held for three generations, Zachry works to do what’s right for our people, our communities and our environment. See how our commitment to safety, community and sustainability shapes every project to deliver quality that endures.
Our Companies & Affiliates
Behind every complex build is a network of strategic infrastructure relationships. Zachry’s affiliates bring deep industry connections and specialized expertise together to keep projects moving forward on schedule and on budget.
Leadership
At Zachry, leadership stays close to the work and the people who make it possible. Our construction management team brings deep industry knowledge to keep people safe, continuously improve operations and deliver quality that lasts.
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