MDU rolls Minnesota’s Tri-City Paving into Knife River operations

Source: MDU Resources Group, Inc., Bismarck, N.D.

MDU Resources has acquired Little Falls, Minn.-based Tri-City Paving, Inc., a general contractor and ready mixed concrete, aggregate and asphalt producer. Management views it as an established company whose service area, strong aggregate supply and vertically integrated business model make it a strategic fit for the Knife River Corp. construction materials subsidiary.

“For 70 years, Tri-City has provided high-quality construction materials and contracting services to support growth in central Minnesota,” says Knife River CEO David Barney. “We are excited to welcome the 150 Tri-City employees to Knife River and are pleased to be expanding our operations in Minnesota. Tri-City’s service territory in the Little Falls/Brainerd area helps to connect our central and northern Minnesota locations.”

In addition to its aggregate reserves and related processing equipment, Tri-City runs three ready mixed concrete and three portable asphalt plants, plus a dust control operation, and becomes part of Knife River’s Central Minnesota Division, based in Sauk Rapids. The transaction follows closely on MDU Resources’ deal for Teevin & Fischer Quarry, LLC in Oregon.

“Strategic acquisitions like [Tri-City] are what built our construction materials business, and with two deals closed in the last six weeks, it is good to be in growth mode again at Knife River,” affirms MDU Resources CEO David Goodin. “We look forward to continued success in Minnesota and are optimistic about additional growth opportunities at Knife River and our other businesses.”