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:
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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
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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:
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An Oliphant brother dies and Del joined a new partner, Russell Bayse to form Cramer-Bayse Construction (1953)
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Built three overpasses along I-35 south of Des Moines
1960s



Cramer-Bayse:
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Del’s father, who everyone called Pop, and three of Del’s brothers, Dale, George and Don joined the company
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Built eleven bridges in Kansas City, Missouri
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Built several of the Des Moines I-235 overpasses including 6th Avenue, 19th Street, Cottage Grove and Harding Road
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Cramer-Bayse dissolved in 1963
Cramer Brothers, Inc.
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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
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Cramer Brothers, Inc. expanded across the state of Iowa
1970s



Cramer Brothers, Inc.
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Built several bridges in Council Bluffs and put the decks on three river bridges: I-80, I-480, and I-680
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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
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Helped the DOT develop a high-density, low-slump bridge deck overlay and is also known as “The Iowa Method”
Cramer and Associates, Inc.
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Incorporated in 1978 as an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and merit shop (non-union)
1980s


Cramer and Associates, Inc.
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Transitioned away from new construction and towards rehabilitating and overlaying bridges
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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.
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Widened and overlayed several bridges on I-80 in Des Moines
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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
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Richard Schoene, Jerry Marker, Dan Cramer and Robert Cramer joined the Board (1991)
2000s


Cramer and Associates, Inc.
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Replaced the MacVicar Freeway, I-235 in Des Moines
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77 bridges were replaced or rehabilitated from the year 2000 to 2007
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Cramer completed about 1/3 of these bridges
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Lead manager of joint venture at I-235 and E. University Ave in 2005 at $43 million
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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
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Del and George retired from daily operations in 2000
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Board leadership transitioned with Dan and Robert Cramer becoming Co-Presidents
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Del passed away in 2002
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Steve Tuttle joined the Board
2010s


Cramer and Associates, Inc.
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Teamed up with Hawkins Construction of Omaha and United Contractors of Johnston for the first major DOT project in Council Bluffs I80 and I29
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Lead manager on $103 million, $40 million and $104 million projects
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Marty Jorgenson and Mark Leusink join the Board (2015)
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Lisa Croyle and Brian Jacob join the Board (2018)
2020s


Cramer and Associates, Inc.
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Work in Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, South Dakota and Kansas, has grown Cramer and Associates, Inc. to a company employing over 150 people.
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Cramer Land Development begins
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Joint venture in Iowa City project with United at $200+ million was largest dollar value job that the IDOT managed to date
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Robert Cramer transitions from Co-President to VP of Land Development (2023)
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Dan Cramer retires and transitions from President to Co-Chair of the Board (2024)
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Mark Leusink transitions into President role (2025)