ForConstructionPros.com

They say that everything is bigger in Texas. However, with its towering structures along The Strip and explosion of new development over the past decade, the same can be said about Las Vegas. Nothing seems to slow this convention and vacation destination.

Even in the shadows of rising oil prices that have increased the cost of asphalt, local producer, Las Vegas Paving Corp., sees no signs of waning demand. "Five years ago, asphalt was $18 per ton and today it is double that, but the demand for (asphalt) roads remains strong," says Dan High, hot plant superintendent for Las Vegas Paving Corp.

Las Vegas Paving is truly a multifaceted company that tackles a wide variety of projects in the construction industry. In addition to its asphalt operations, the company has a large underground utility division, a concrete division capable of completing projects ranging from sidewalks to bridges, an environmental treatment facility, a trucking division, traffic control division, and a vast material and crushing division. In 2006, the company's aggregate production alone was nearly 11 million tons.

"Put all these divisions together, which gives us the ability to accomplish just about any task, and this is what Las Vegas Paving is known for," explains Terry Mendenhall, vice president of Las Vegas Paving. The company prides itself on delivering a finished project in a timely manner to the complete satisfaction of the customer. And this philosophy and business model has worked well, as the company ranks as the 62nd top fleet owner in the nation and has grown to an average annual contract volume of $400 million.

The company's asphalt division includes five asphalt plants stationed around the Las Vegas area. The vertically integrated Las Vegas Paving is by far the leading asphalt contractor and producer in the area. Since its inception nearly 50 years ago, the company has placed nearly 30 million tons of asphalt, or about 40,000 lane-miles.