Reed & Reed
A Maine-based private general contractor specializing in heavy civil construction, bridges, infrastructure, renewable-energy projects, and integrated construction services.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Reed & Reed Inc. is a privately held general contracting and heavy civil construction company headquartered in Woolwich, Maine. Founded in 1928 by Captain Josiah W. Reed and his son Carlton Day Reed, the business began with approximately $2,000 in capital and developed an early reputation through bridge construction. Bridge work remained central to its identity for many decades, while the company later expanded into broader infrastructure, marine, energy, electrical-transmission, and construction-management activities. The company provides services across multiple stages of a project. Its capabilities include preliminary planning, permitting assistance, design coordination, resource identification, master scheduling, budget development, equipment handling, logistics, project management, and maintenance. This integrated approach allows Reed & Reed to participate in projects from early planning through construction and post-completion support rather than operating solely as a trade contractor. Although the firm was established in 1928, it was not incorporated as Reed & Reed, Inc. until 1982. The following decade brought geographic and organizational expansion. In 1992, the company established RR Caribbean Inc. in St. Thomas to support work and business development in the Caribbean. In 1994, it acquired Callahan Brothers, Inc., a competitor active in contracting and design. The acquisition strengthened Reed & Reed's position in its regional market and broadened its construction capabilities. Reed & Reed's project portfolio includes transportation infrastructure, marine facilities, renewable-energy installations, and utility-related work. Notable undertakings include the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory in Maine, undertaken as a joint venture with Cianbro Inc.; the Ocean Gateway cruise-ship pier in Portland; and a major wind farm in Mars Hill, Maine. These projects helped position the company beyond traditional bridge contracting and demonstrated its ability to manage technically complex public and private infrastructure work. The company has continued to pursue renewable energy as a strategic area of activity. Its work in wind energy was reflected in the evolution of its corporate presentation and logo, while bridge and transportation contracts continued to represent an important source of business. Reed & Reed is also frequently engaged by the Maine Department of Transportation on projects ranging from smaller transportation improvements to major bridge work. In 2017, Reed & Reed acquired PLC Construction, a New Hampshire electrical-transmission contractor that had frequently worked as a subcontractor on Reed & Reed projects. PLC employed approximately 40 people at the time of the transaction. The purchase expanded Reed & Reed's capabilities in electrical transmission and utility construction. In 2022, the company was announced as the lead contractor for a Maine Department of Transportation project in Woolwich involving replacement of a deteriorated bridge and construction of an additional bridge intended to address flooding concerns. Reed & Reed's principal market remains the northeastern United States, especially Maine and the wider New England region, with additional activity in the Caribbean. Its positioning combines regional infrastructure knowledge, heavy construction expertise, project-management capabilities, and a willingness to pursue adjacent sectors such as wind energy and electrical transmission.
History
Reed & Reed traces its origins to 1928, when Captain Josiah W. Reed and his son Carlton Day Reed established the company in Maine with approximately $2,000 in initial capital. The business entered construction at a time when regional transportation infrastructure was expanding, and by 1930 it had begun undertaking bridge projects. Bridge construction became the defining element of the company's reputation for roughly the next half-century. The company's legal structure changed over time. Although the business dates from 1928, Reed & Reed, Inc. was incorporated in 1982. The incorporation marked a formal corporate milestone as the organization continued to develop beyond its original family-founded operation. During the 1990s, the firm began extending its reach outside Maine. In 1992 it created RR Caribbean Inc. in St. Thomas to support Caribbean operations and business opportunities. In 1994 it acquired Callahan Brothers, Inc., a competitor involved in contracting and design, thereby adding scale and capabilities in its regional market. Reed & Reed subsequently broadened its work beyond conventional bridge construction. Its portfolio came to include major transportation, marine, energy, and infrastructure assignments. In 2003, it formed a joint venture with Cianbro Inc. for construction of the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory. The project became a prominent Maine landmark and represented one of the company's most visible public infrastructure undertakings. Other significant work included the Ocean Gateway cruise-ship pier in Portland and a large wind farm in Mars Hill, Maine. Wind energy became an increasingly important strategic direction as the company sought to apply its heavy construction capabilities to renewable infrastructure. The company's corporate branding incorporated wind turbines, reflecting this emphasis. At the same time, bridge contracts and other transportation assignments continued to provide a substantial part of its business. Reed & Reed has often worked for the Maine Department of Transportation on both large and small projects, reinforcing its role as a regional public-infrastructure contractor. The company expanded into utility construction through its 2017 acquisition of PLC Construction, an electrical-transmission contractor based in New Hampshire. PLC had frequently been a Reed & Reed subcontractor and employed about 40 people when it was acquired. Bringing PLC into the organization gave Reed & Reed a more direct presence in electrical-transmission work and complemented its existing infrastructure capabilities. In 2022, Reed & Reed was selected to lead a Maine Department of Transportation project in Woolwich. The work involved replacing a deteriorated bridge and adding another bridge to improve resilience against flooding. This project connected the company's long-standing bridge expertise with contemporary infrastructure-maintenance and climate-resilience needs. Today, Reed & Reed remains a private contractor based in Woolwich. Its work is concentrated in Maine and other parts of New England, with additional activity in the Caribbean. The business combines general contracting with preconstruction planning, permitting assistance, design coordination, scheduling, budgeting, equipment and logistics management, project management, and maintenance. Its historical evolution—from a bridge builder founded by a Maine father and son to a diversified heavy civil contractor—has been characterized by regional specialization, selective acquisitions, joint ventures, and expansion into renewable energy and electrical transmission.
- 2022
Woolwich bridge project awarded
[1]Reed & Reed was announced as lead contractor for a Woolwich bridge replacement and additional bridge project addressing flooding concerns.
- 2017
PLC Construction acquired
[1]The company acquired New Hampshire electrical-transmission contractor PLC Construction, expanding its utility-construction capabilities.
- 2003
Penobscot Narrows project begins
[1]A Reed & Reed and Cianbro joint venture began construction of the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory in Maine.
- 1994
Callahan Brothers acquired
[1]Reed & Reed purchased Callahan Brothers, Inc., a competitor active in contracting and design.
- 1992
RR Caribbean established
[1]The company created RR Caribbean Inc. in St. Thomas to support its Caribbean expansion.
- 1982
Company incorporated
[1]Reed & Reed was formally incorporated as Reed & Reed, Inc., despite the business having operated since 1928.
- 1930
Early bridge construction begins
[1]The company began undertaking bridge construction projects, establishing the core specialization that shaped its reputation for decades.
- 1928
Reed & Reed founded
[1]Captain Josiah W. Reed and his son Carlton Day Reed established the company in Maine with approximately $2,000 in initial capital.
Products and positioning
A regional heavy civil and general contracting partner offering integrated preconstruction, construction, project-management, logistics, and maintenance services, with particular strength in bridges, transportation infrastructure, marine work, renewable energy, and utility construction.
Transportation infrastructure · 1930
Bridge construction
Bridge construction has been Reed & Reed's historic core capability. The company undertakes new bridge construction, bridge replacement, and related transportation-infrastructure work, including projects for the Maine Department of Transportation. Its long experience in this field remains central to the brand's regional identity.
Civil infrastructure
Heavy civil construction
Reed & Reed provides general contracting and construction-management services for complex civil works. The offering encompasses planning, scheduling, budgeting, equipment handling, logistics, field execution, and maintenance for infrastructure projects across Maine and the wider New England region.
Marine infrastructure
Marine and port facilities
The company's marine construction experience includes port and waterfront infrastructure. The Ocean Gateway cruise-ship pier in Portland, Maine, is among the notable projects associated with its expansion beyond bridges and conventional highway work.
Utility infrastructure · 2017
Electrical transmission construction
Through the acquisition of PLC Construction, Reed & Reed expanded its direct capabilities in electrical-transmission contracting. This line complements the company's broader infrastructure portfolio and builds on PLC's prior role as a Reed & Reed subcontractor.
Construction services
Integrated preconstruction and project services
The company supports projects before and after physical construction through preliminary services, permitting assistance, design coordination, resource identification, master scheduling, budget development, equipment logistics, project management, and maintenance services.
Brand decisions
2022
Lead role on Woolwich bridge resilience projectStrategyBackground
The Maine Department of Transportation needed to replace a deteriorated bridge while addressing flooding-related infrastructure concerns.
Action taken
Reed & Reed was selected to lead a project combining bridge replacement with construction of an additional bridge.
Aftermath
The project reinforced the company's long-standing relationship with Maine transportation authorities and connected its bridge expertise with flood-resilience objectives.
2017
Acquisition of PLC ConstructionM&ABackground
PLC Construction was an electrical-transmission contractor in New Hampshire and had frequently worked as a Reed & Reed subcontractor.
Action taken
Reed & Reed acquired PLC Construction, bringing its electrical-transmission operation into the company.
Aftermath
The acquisition broadened Reed & Reed's utility-construction capabilities. PLC employed approximately 40 people at the time, but transaction terms were not disclosed in the reference material.
2003
Joint venture for the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and ObservatoryStrategyBackground
The Penobscot Narrows project was awarded through a competitive process and required a substantial infrastructure-construction capability.
Action taken
Reed & Reed formed a joint venture with Cianbro Inc. to undertake construction of the bridge and observatory.
Aftermath
The completed project became a prominent Maine landmark and one of Reed & Reed's best-known public infrastructure assignments.
1994
Acquisition of Callahan BrothersM&ABackground
Reed & Reed was competing in a regional contracting and design market and sought to expand its operating scale and capabilities.
Action taken
The company purchased Callahan Brothers, Inc., a leading competitor in contracting and design.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded Reed & Reed's regional construction platform, although the available reference material does not provide financial terms or detailed integration results.
Sources1 sources
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