top of page

Our History

For over 70 years, the Cramer family has been building bridges in Iowa and the surrounding areas. What started as a small venture between friends, then brothers, has grown into a family and employee owned business with more than 150 employees and a revenue exceeding $100 million annually.

1950s

Oliphant, Oliphant, and Cramer:

  • Del Cramer graduated Iowa State in 1950 where he received a B.S. degree in Agricultural Engineering and went to work for the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) as an inspector

  • Del and another inspector, Harold Oliphant, and Sock Oliphant decided construction didn’t look too difficult and started their own company. They formed Oliphant, Oliphant, and Cramer

​Cramer-Bayse:

  • An Oliphant brother dies and Del joined a new partner, Russell Bayse to form Cramer-Bayse Construction (1953)

  • Built three overpasses along I-35 south of Des Moines

1960s

Cramer-Bayse:

  • Del’s father, who everyone called Pop, and three of Del’s brothers, Dale, George and Don joined the company

  • Built eleven bridges in Kansas City, Missouri

  • Built several of the Des Moines I-235 overpasses including 6th Avenue, 19th Street, Cottage Grove and Harding Road

  • Cramer-Bayse dissolved in 1963

 

Cramer Brothers, Inc.

  • Del and his brothers, Dale, George and Don, began a partnership called Des Moines Bridge and incorporated under the name Cramer Brothers, Inc. in 1965

  • Cramer Brothers, Inc. expanded across the state of Iowa​​​

1970s

Cramer Brothers, Inc.

  • Built several bridges in Council Bluffs and put the decks on three river bridges: I-80, I-480, and I-680

  • Joint ventured with Jensen Construction to build the “5-in-1” in Cedar Rapids across the river consisting of a double deck bridge, twin bridges and a dam on the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids

  • Helped the DOT develop a high-density, low-slump bridge deck overlay and is also known as “The Iowa Method”

 

Cramer and Associates, Inc.

  • Incorporated in 1978 as an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and merit shop (non-union)

1980s

Cramer and Associates, Inc.

  • Transitioned away from new construction and towards rehabilitating and overlaying bridges

  • Moved half the company to Topeka, Kansas for a two-year job of widening and overlaying bridges on I-70 and followed up with a similar two-year project in Wichita, Kansas

1990s

Cramer and Associates, Inc.

  • Widened and overlayed several bridges on I-80 in Des Moines

  • Built many new flood walls, gates and pump stations to protect the low parts of the city after the floods of 1993 in Des Moines

  • Richard Schoene, Jerry Marker, Dan Cramer and Robert Cramer joined the Board (1991)

2000s

Cramer and Associates, Inc.

  • Replaced the MacVicar Freeway, I-235 in Des Moines

    • 77 bridges were replaced or rehabilitated from the year 2000 to 2007

    • Cramer completed about 1/3 of these bridges

  • Lead manager of joint venture at I-235 and E. University Ave in 2005 at $43 million

  • Led a joint venture downtown project, a $93 million freeway replacement including grading, pcc paving, bridges, MSE walls, storm sewers and other utilities, lighting, and signing

  • Del and George retired from daily operations in 2000

  • Board leadership transitioned with Dan and Robert Cramer becoming Co-Presidents

  • Del passed away in 2002

  • Steve Tuttle joined the Board

2010s

Cramer and Associates, Inc.

  • Teamed up with Hawkins Construction of Omaha and United Contractors of Johnston for the first major DOT project in Council Bluffs I80 and I29

  • Lead manager on $103 million, $40 million and  $104 million projects

  • Marty Jorgenson and Mark Leusink join the Board (2015)

  • Lisa Croyle and Brian Jacob join the Board (2018)

2020s

Cramer and Associates, Inc.

  • Work in Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, South Dakota and Kansas, has grown Cramer and Associates, Inc. to a company employing over 150 people.  

  • Cramer Land Development begins

  • Joint venture in Iowa City project with United at $200+ million was largest dollar value job that the IDOT managed to date

  • Robert Cramer transitions from Co-President to VP of Land Development (2023)

  • Dan Cramer retires and transitions from President to Co-Chair of the Board (2024)

  • Mark Leusink transitions into President role (2025)

bottom of page