Family-Owned R&D Paving Starts, Stays Humble as It Thrives in N.H.
R&D Paving, a family-owned paving and snow contracting business, has become a trusted name across New Hampshire, serving residential, commercial and municipal clients.
What started as a humble operation in 1990, founded by Richard, Donald and Nancy Dubreuil in the basement of their home, has grown into a well-respected company under the leadership of Richard’s sons, Matthew and Joseph Dubreuil.
Over the decades, R&D Paving has expanded significantly, building a team of highly qualified professionals with
Conn. Lawmaker Proposes Widening I-84 to Reduce Congestion Between Two Cities
Conn. State Rep. Mitch Bolinsky is no stranger to traffic on Interstate 84 in his state.
He knows the bottlenecks along the route from his home to the State Capitol in Hartford, including places where traffic merges in what he deems a chaotic or unsafe way, leading to frequent accidents. He knows he is not alone in being frustrated at the situation.
“I experience it every day,” Bolinsky said. “But the most important thing is, I hear [it] from the constituents every day.”
As a result, Bolinsky has proposed a possible solution by submitting a bill calling for the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) to study building an additional traffic lane, both eastbound and westbound, along more than 30 mi. of I-84, from Exit 7 in Danbury through Exit 20 in Waterbury.
“The economic future of Connecticut is tied to our transportation system,” he told CT Insider. “If we don’t have the capacity to handle the traffic that’s flowing through here, it’s
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R.I. Can Rebuild Critical Bridge Without Federal Money
Even if the federal government withholds hundreds of millions of federal dollars previously promised to Rhode Island, the state will have more than enough money to build a new westbound Washington Bridge, state Transportation Director Peter Alviti told a joint House-Senate Oversight hearing at the Statehouse in Feb.
Alviti said more than $600 million has been allocated for the bridge and a series of improvements along Interstate 95 in Providence, R.I., and that the money does not fall into the categories being restricted by the White House.
According to The Public’s Radio in Providence, Alviti said the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) remains in regular contact with federal transportation officials about trying to spur the release of the funds.
“But in their absence, we have the funding in place through the GARVEE debt [capacity],” he said, referring to a form of borrowing for transit projects known as Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicle Bonds, “and other sources that I outlined for you to be able to build the bridge. So, we’re moving ahead.”
Even if the federal government withholds hundreds of millions of federal dollars previously promised to Rhode Island, the state will have more than enough money to build a new westbound Washington Bridge
how the state has yet to settle on a contractor more than a year after the closing of the bridge and after an initial RFP attracted no bids.
There were few other fresh revelations during the almost three-hour hearing on Feb. 13, 2025.
State Sen. Mark McKenney and chair of the Senate Committee on Rules, Government Ethics and Oversight, noted at the meeting’s outset that lawsuits over the Washington Bridge’s condition being led by Attorney General Peter Neronha limited Alviti’s ability to discuss the roots of the bridge crisis and why it happened.
The westbound Washington Bridge was abruptly closed on an emergency basis in December 2023.
Nevertheless, lawmakers pressed Alviti to answer when the new westbound bridge will be complete and how much it will cost.
The Public’s Radio reported that Alviti answered by saying what he and Gov. Dan McKee have said before: that a final contractor for the project is slated to be selected in June 2025 and that the cost and timeline will be detailed at that point.
State Rep. Pat Serpa, chair of the House Oversight Committee, prefaced her questioning of Alviti by lambasting RIDOT.
“My biggest concern is that Rhode Islanders have lost their faith in the Department of Transportation and that hasn’t been fixed yet and I don’t know how we’re going to fix that,” she said, pointing to
While Alviti touted improvements in travel times on the bridge, Rep. June Speakman added that she continues to hear from frustrated constituents.
“The East Bay residents have moved in their processing of the situation from sort of anger and confusion to resignation about the traffic and now we hear a lot more about the concerns of the stress on the [eastbound] bridge, which is carrying traffic east and west, because we spend so much time on it,” she said.
While the installation of monitoring equipment on the eastbound bridge is only partially complete, Alviti explained that the structure is being monitored on a daily basis and can safely carry its increased traffic.
In addition, he told lawmakers that RIDOT has improved hundreds of bridges in recent years and noted the replacement of the westbound Washington Bridge is moving more quickly than the rebuilding of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland.
“I’m very pleased, let me tell you, with the progress and the effort and I couldn’t be more proud of these people behind me,” he said, referring to RIDOT staffers, “at the level of effort and the kind of results that they have been getting.”
“I don’t know what construction you’ve done,” Alviti continued. “I’ve built 290 bridges and let me tell you, this one is going
faster and better through the procurement process, the subsurface explorations, the demolition, than any project this state has ever seen even before my time and we intend on keeping it that way.”
URI Athletic Field Renovations Likely to Accelerate in 2025
Ongoing renovations to the University of Rhode Island’s athletic fields in Kingston are expected to pick up later this year, with formal construction on the school’s new outdoor track and field expected to start this summer, Thorr Bjorn, URI’s Director of Athletics, recently told Providence Business News (PBN) for a Feb. 25, 2025 article.
In addition, Bjorn said construction on Meade Stadium, home to URI’s football and new women’s lacrosse programs, is expected to start in November 2025 at the conclusion of next football season. The stadium renovation is slated to take 18 months, he said, while construction of the track will begin in about a year.
Therefore, the football team will have to play its 2026 home schedule at an alternative site, Bjorn said, before returning to Meade in the fall of 2027. He said URI is seeking a temporary home facility for football, with hopes of having “a really good plan in place” by summer 2025.
When asked if the new Stadium at Tidewater Landing in Pawtucket — set to open in May 2025 — is a possibility for URI football, Bjorn said it would be “a great
option” but would depend on the usage cost.
“There’s certainly great people there and it’s a great facility,” he told PBN. “We have to figure out what makes the most financial sense [for us] and [the most sense for fans].”
Bjorn also said he hopes women’s lacrosse can be played inside Meade while construction is ongoing, but added, “We’ll see.”
Both Meade Stadium and the new outdoor track are the centerpieces of URI’s $82 million renovations to multiple athletic fields and aging facilities. The soccer and softball fields, as well as underground infrastructure at Tootell Aquatic Center, also are being upgraded.
New artificial turf was installed at the baseball field fall 2024, PBN noted. The design work for Meade and the track was done first, given their cost and size, Bjorn said, and the initial designs for the other fields will hopefully be complete “in the near future.”
The university received $65.8 million in Rhode Island’s 2024 fiscal year budget to fund most of the initiative. In October 2023, URI launched a $20 million fundraising campaign to close the financial gap for the project.
Bjorn said the school is still fundraising the final $16 million to finish the project. Conversations between URI athletics and donors are “going well,” he said, but physical designs showing the finished project will likely help drum up more enthusiasm and financial contributions.
RIDOT photo
Maine Eyes Better Funding Solutions for School Repairs
Many aging schools in Maine need significant upgrades, with air quality, security and space concerns creating significant challenges for students and educators.
As school districts across the state struggle to keep up with repairs and replacements, a new push is under way to reform how Maine funds school construction.
At Dayton Consolidated School, for instance, space is tight. For more than 30 years, the majority of students in the elementary school southwest of Portland, Maine, have been educated in portable classrooms, moving between separate buildings and braving the elements between class and lunch.
“The staff and the principal have done wonderful things to try and alleviate some of that,” Superintendent Jeremy Ray told CBS affiliate WGME-TV in Portland. “But the fact of the matter is not having kids in the same school building, especially pre-K through five, is really problematic.”
Beyond space limitations, the school, built in 1950, also faces air quality concerns and other limitations related to technology.
“Just having enough power in each classroom can be a bit of a challenge, because some of the older classrooms, I believe, have [only] two outlets in them,” Ray said. “The spaces that were designed 75 years ago may not quite meet 21st century learning standards and what we want for our kids and our schools.”
Dayton is just one of many schools struggling with aging infrastructure.
Securing School Funds Proving More Difficult
In 2024, WGME’s CBS13 I-Team survey of every school district in the state found that the average age of Maine’s nearly 600 school buildings is 54 years old.
As a result, many of those buildings need major upgrades or a full replacement to meet current standards, but the current funding model to do that has not kept pace with demand.
“We’re just one example of some of the need that’s all over the state,” Ray said.
Dayton is among 96 schools that have applied for the latest round of funding through Maine’s Major Capital School Construction Program. During the last rating cycle eight years ago, Dayton ranked in the top 20, yet did not receive any funding.
Whether they rank higher this time remains uncertain.
“The state does have a very solid process for rating schools,” Ray said. “We hope to rank higher.”
Scott Brown, director of school facilities with the Maine Department of Education, is currently reviewing those applications.
“The ones that rise all the way to the top
Shutterstock photo
meet all the criteria,” he said in speaking with WGME-TV. “Most of them have either heavy renovation needs or require full replacement.”
But securing funding for those top projects has become increasingly difficult.
During the 2004-2005 rating cycle, 20 projects were approved. In 2010-2011, 16 projects were able to move forward, and during the last rating cycle in 2017-2018, only nine made it to the approved projects list, the Portland news outlet reported.
It is something state leaders believe is due to an increased need and increased costs.
When CBS13 I-Team Reporter Dan Lampariello interviewed Brown recently, Lampariello noted the small number of schools selected for the Major Capital School Construction Program during the last cycle and asked, “Do you expect it to be any more or any less this cycle?”
“It all depends, Dan, on the Governor’s Commission [on School Construction] and maybe the size of those schools,” Brown said. “One very large high school could take up a lot of money, so you can build fewer schools, so we don’t know. But I’m pretty optimistic that we’ll be able to work through
it and address those high-need schools.”
The commission, launched last fall, is studying Maine’s school construction funding model for the first time in 25 years. Currently, the program relies on state-issued bonds, but legislative limits on debt tend to create constraints.
“There are so many financial challenges in Augusta, but this certainly needs to be recognized as one of them,” he told Lampariello.
Exploring Other School Funding Options
As lawmakers await the commission’s report, state Rep. Michael Brennan has introduced legislation proposing an alternative funding approach. His plan would use revenue from certain taxes, including lodging, cigarette, cannabis and gambling to create a school construction fund allowing projects to be paid for with cash instead of bonds.
“The savings on interest would be enormous,” he said. “We could double, even quadruple the number of schools we’re doing now.”
Brennan also believes state officials
should rethink how many of these projects they should help finance.
“We’re one of only a handful of states in the country that provide 100 percent financing for schools, so I think we need to go to a cost-sharing model,” he said.
In addition to funding, discussions around school consolidation also may become part of the conversation.
A new study from the Maine Education Policy Research Institute found school enrollment in the state declined 20 percent from 1991 to 2020, leaving Maine with one of the lowest student-to-school ratios in the country.
“Our biggest single problem is we have too many buildings and too few students,” according to Brennan.
But for communities like Dayton, closing or consolidating is not an option right now.
“[Our school is] really part of the identity of the town,” Ray said. “I think we’re really at a crossroads for what we do in funding school construction.”
The Governor’s Commission on School Construction is expected to submit its report to the state Legislature by mid-April, 2025, WGME-TV noted.
Many aging schools in Maine need significant upgrades, with air quality, security and space concerns creating significant challenges for students and educators.
Renovations Begin On Harvard Medical School Building
Construction is under way on updating Building C at the Harvard Medical School (HMS) campus in Boston, Mass. following a $75 million gift from Swiss biotech executive, entrepreneur and philanthropist Ernesto S.M. Bertarelli.
The renovation project will modernize the 119-year-old building, one of five historic marble structures that form the HMS quadrangle.
Bertarelli, a Harvard Business School (HBS) graduate and former CEO of Serono, a European biotech company, has consistently donated to HMS and HBS through his family organization, the Bertarelli Foundation.
In a statement, HMS spokesperson Dennis Nealon wrote that Bertarelli is a “longtime Harvard Medical School friend and supporter.”
The venerable medical school’s Building C currently houses the Department of Cell Biology and the Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, in addition to serving as a hub for the HMS Therapeutics Initiative, which aims to advance therapeutics research, accelerate translation of discoveries into medicines, educate and train the inventors of future medicines.
It also is home to the recently opened Blavatnik Harvard Life Lab Longwood, a centerpiece of the Therapeutics Initiative that provides collaborative workspaces for early-stage, high-potential biotech and life sciences startups founded by Harvard students, alumni, postdoctoral scholars and faculty.
The Harvard Crimson noted Feb. 24, 2025, that the renovations also will update the school’s Cannon lecture hall as well as common spaces and building systems in the surrounding area.
Most notably, however, the project will refurbish an existing courtyard by converting it into a new atrium. The work involves enclosing Building C’s outdoor courtyard, situated between the wet lab and dry lab arms of the Blavatnik Life Lab.
The Building C facade was recently restored and will be preserved and the new spaces housed within the atrium will be integrated into HMS’ historic campus fabric, the medical school said.
“The outdoor courtyard of Building C will be transformed into an expansive, skylighted atrium that will serve as convening and collaboration space for the West Quad and the broader Harvard Medical School community,” Nealon said.
The renovations began earlier in February 2025 and are expected to be completed in October 2026, according to Nealon. While an earlier timeline set a target finish date in 2025, the plan was later
revised after the architectural firm and general contractor were engaged and a start date was set.
“The Therapeutics Initiative is working to address the impediments that can hinder an idea in the lab from progressing toward a medicine,” said Mark Namchuk, executive director of therapeutics translation of HMS.
“A critical component to transiting that science is building the infrastructure where both basic and translational science can be supported and Ernesto Bertarelli is doing just that with his generous gift.”
HMS Part of Dynamic Boston Neighborhood
Building C’s structure, however, is not the only thing set to change.
“In recognition of this commitment from the Bertarelli family, Building C, which was constructed in 1906, will be named the Bertarelli Building after completion of construction,” said Nealon.
This will make Building C the last of five historic buildings in the HMS Quadrangle to be named after a donor.
Built in 1906, Building C is one of five marble-faced buildings — originally named A, B, C, D and E — that form the medical school’s iconic quadrangle. At that time, the combination of a new HMS and empty land in the Fenway part of Boston drew hospitals
to the neighborhood now known as the Longwood Medical and Academic Area (LMA).
Today, the LMA is a thriving and dynamic community of medical, academic, research and cultural organizations — including several HMS-affiliated hospitals and research institutes — that combine to create a powerful economic engine for the city and the state.
“The combination of breakthrough science and empowering partnerships, like the one with Mr. Bertarelli, that animates the LMA is nothing short of inspiring,” said Harvard President-elect Claudine Gay. “You can feel the future of human health taking shape around you.”
HMS Dean George Q. Daley also praised Bertarelli’s generosity, emphasizing his contributions’ alignment with the school’s goals of bridging basic science and therapeutic application.
“Ernesto Bertarelli is an ardent supporter of both fundamental and translational research at HMS,” Daily said. “He understands that in order to improve the health and well-being of patients, we must first support observations in the lab and then nurture and orient them toward interventions in the clinic. It is therefore fitting that the Bertarelli name will be inscribed in the marble of the building that personifies our com-
mitment to both basic and therapeutic science.”
Bertarelli is currently chair of the private investment firm B-FLEXION, formerly Waypoint Capital. Born in Rome, he is a graduate of Babson College and Harvard Business School, where he earned his MBA in 1993.
The $75 million gift to Harvard is the Bertarelli family’s latest in more than a decade of support to HMS, HBS and the university. They also established the Bertarelli Program in Translational Neuroscience and Neuroengineering in 2010; the endowed Bertarelli Professorship in Translational Medical Science, held by David Corey; and the Bertarelli Rare Cancers Fund, established in 2019 by Dona Bertarelli, Ernesto’s sister.
“Harvard Medical School is a world leader in health care innovation, translational research and cutting-edge discovery and it continues to have an immense impact on the health and well-being of humankind,” Ernesto Bertarelli said in the HMS statement. “It has been my honor to have been a partner of the School for over two decades, and I am delighted to continue to support the HMS community in its important work by helping to modernize these landmark facilities to keep pace with therapeutics innovation.”
Harvard University - Gretchen Ertl photo
Ernesto Bertarelli (R) joins HMS Dean George Q. Daley and Harvard University President-elect Claudine Gay on the HMS campus in the courtyard of Building C, which will be enclosed to create a new skylighted atrium, thanks to a philanthropic gift from the Bertarelli family.
Work On New Track, Field at Mass. High School to Begin
A project to build a new track and field at Amherst Regional High School in western Mass. is likely to begin this summer at a cost of $4.11 million.
The Amherst Regional School Committee unanimously approved the selection of M.J. Cataldo Inc., in Littleton, Mass., to handle the longawaited project on Feb. 11, 2025, after determining the contractor’s qualifications and submitted the lowest of 10 bids, which ranged up to $6.91 million.
The bid is $384,000 below the school committee’s cost projections and $400,000 below what is already in hand for the project.
M.J. Cataldo also included in its bid six alternates, or add-ons, including a fence and a concrete bleacher pad, which will be completed under the contract.
The Daily Hampshire Gazette noted that following the vote, there was applause by committee members, as well as Sarahbess Kenney, the board’s chair, offering appreciation to Bob Pereint, the special capital projects coordinator of Amherst, and Assistant Town Manager David Ziomek.
“This was a whole heap [of work],” Kenney said.
The low bid from M.J. Cataldo means that there will be a 10 percent contingency.
“It’s what we hoped for, and we got there,” Pereint said. Amherst-Pelham Regional School District (ARPS) includes the towns of Amherst, Pelham, Leverett and Shutesbury. It includes four elementary schools, a middle school and the high school.
High School Will Soon Host Track Meets Once Again
Amherst High’s new track and field was designed by SLR Consulting in Agawam, Mass. and will be replacing the 25-year-old latex-covered
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Would Adding Lane to I-84 in Conn. Actually Reduce Traffic?
going to find another way.”
Though the bill, which has been referred to the legislature’s Transportation Committee, is not likely to pass, Bolinsky said his primary goal is to “start some conversation” around the primary question: Would adding a lane to the highway actually reduce traffic?
Research has shown that adding lanes does relieve congestion in the short-term, as one would expect. Within a few years, though, studies show that expanded highways typically attract more cars, which leads to increased traffic once again.
This principle, known as “induced demand,” has led some advocates and policymakers to oppose adding lanes to roads as a way of mitigating traffic. As they see it, making highways wider costs enormous sums of money without meaningfully reducing congestion.
“It doesn’t work,” said Jay Stange,
Transport Hartford coordinator of the Center for Latino Progress. “Inevitably, that extra capacity draws additional interest in using [the highway] until eventually that’s full and you end up with a 20-lane interstate with 10 lanes going in either direction.”
Stange lamented that I-84 cuts through Connecticut’s cities and expressed hope the state would move away from its reliance on highways as part of its near- and long-term
development plans.
Still, fears over induced demand haven’t stopped highway expansion projects nationwide, from Texas to New England, according to CT Insider.
Could More Transit-Related Projects Be Answer?
Bolinsky noted that in his state, I-84 in western Conn. has been barely upgraded in decades, and it is not sustainable to have just two lanes in each direction. That contrasts with segments of the freeway east of Waterbury that have three lanes or more heading to and from Hartford.
“The backups are pretty monumental,” he said of the location.
A spokesperson for CTDOT pointed out that the state recently completed a $223 million project to upgrade the interchange between I-84 and Connecticut Highway 8 in Waterbury — an area of exits and ramps known locally as the “mixmaster” — and is currently exploring options to reduce con-
gestion in the Danbury area.
Stange argues the best way to alleviate traffic on congested highways is to build a society less reliant on cars, by such measures as improving public transit options and building more housing near train stations. This would additionally provide environmental benefits, he said, such as reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
“Everybody is now stuck driving in a car, often by themselves, everywhere they go,” Stange said. “And if you try and change the system by adding extra pavement, it’s really a zero-sum game. It’s impossible.”
Bolinsky also has proposed other pieces of transit-related legislation this session, including a bill that would increase the use of automated traffic enforcement on highways and another that would bar GPS devices from detouring drivers toward local roads.
CT Insider also reported that the Connecticut Legislature’s Transportation Committee will consider several bills during the current session, including proposals to fully restore service on the Shore Line East rail line, reform laws around towing practices and allow high school students to access public transportation more easily.
CTDOT photo I-84 and Connecticut Highway 8 Interchange, The Mixmaster.
Shutterstock photo
A project to build a new track and field at Amherst Regional High School in western Mass. is likely to begin this summer at a cost of $4.11 million.
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R&D Paving Places Strong Emphasis On Its Equipment
decades of combined experience and investing in a fleet of cutting-edge paving equipment. Despite their growth, the Dubreuil family has remained steadfast in their commitment to honesty, trustworthiness and expert craftsmanship. Each project, no matter the size, receives the full dedication and attention it deserves.
Customer satisfaction is a cornerstone of R&D’s philosophy. The company guarantees fair pricing, ensures projects are completed on schedule, and stands behind every job with a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee. Whether working with homeowners, business owners, or municipal representatives, R&D has built a reputation for reliability and excellence.
A significant portion of R&D’s business involves serving municipalities, a sector where precision and professionalism are paramount.
“Our primary focus when dealing with municipalities is flexibility, professionalism, and executing the project exactly right,” said Matthew Dubreuil. “When we achieve that, we build customer loyalty. Highway superintendents and municipalities repeatedly choose us because they know they won’t be disappointed. That’s when we know we’re doing something right.”
Given the substantial investment required for paving projects — whether for a town, a business repaving its parking lot or a homeowner paving their driveway — customer trust is crucial.
“It’s also essential that our employees share the same passion and commitment to customer satisfaction that we do,” said
Joseph Dubreuil. “From administrative staff to sales representatives, laborers and superintendents, we encourage everyone to take ownership of the company’s success.”
Building a company of R&D’s scale and reputation has been a rewarding journey for the Dubreuil brothers.
“We take pride in what we’ve built,” said Matthew. “There’s a fine line between pride and cockiness, and we strive to remain humble. We know there are other great companies out there, but we take pride in how we run our business and how our employees represent us.”
Both brothers have dedicated their lives to the company, having started working in the business as pre-teens. With
R&D Paving using its LeeBoy paver to lay down a perfect mat.
more than two decades of experience, they are already planning for the next generation.
“One of our primary goals is to smoothly transition this second-generation company to the third generation,” Matthew said. “Our sons and daughters are already getting involved in different aspects of the business. We have about 15 years before we retire, and by then, our children will be running the show.”
Running a family business comes with its challenges, but the Dubreuil brothers have always found ways to make it work. Their father, a former Marine, instilled in them a rigorous work ethic and attention to detail that continues to define the company.
“He expected 100 percent effort and demanded professionalism,” said Matthew. “He made us the men we are today.”
To ensure top-tier results, R&D places a strong emphasis on investing in the best equipment. Much of their fleet has been purchased from Ambrose Equipment, headquartered in Hooksett, N.H. Over the years, R&D has acquired numerous LeeBoy pavers and Rosco asphalt maintenance equipment for residential and commercial work, along with Sakai and Dynapac rollers, and the company just purchased its first Roadtec paver for municipal projects.
One of R&D’s recent investments was a new Roadtec paver for large-scale commercial and municipal projects. They traded in a competitor’s machine, trusting Ambrose’s recommendation.
“The Roadtec has exceeded our expectations,” said Matthew. “Our team loves it.”
see R&D page 18
R&D from page 1
asphalt track with a new eight-lane surface. Inside the track will be a reoriented, northsouth playing field with a natural grass surface. Nearby, a second playing field also will be built to the west of the track.
The old track surface has been in such poor condition in recent years, the Gazette noted, that the high school has been unable to host home track meets since 2018. In addition, the interior playing field has been plagued with divots and holes and is often wet. The school district noted that one of its concerns with using a grass surface is the drainage and necessary maintenance that will need to be done to keep it in good shape.
So far, more than $4 million has been appropriated for the project, and another $176,000 is anticipated to come from the town of Leverett, Mass., where voters at its annual town meeting will be asked to draw those funds from the Community Preservation Act (CPA) account.
Already, Amherst, Mass., has provided $1.76 million from its CPA account, with Shutesbury contributing $136,000, and
& & R ALES E AVY EQ RENTALS PMENQUI N
M.J. Cataldo to Lead Sports Project at Amherst High School
Pelham $110,500 from their accounts.
Other sources of funding include $1.5 million in debt approved by the regional schools and $900,000 in free cash from Amherst. Another $104,840 donation comes from the Amherst Hurricane Boosters, which is less than what had been sought; however, its fundraising was largely contingent on building an interior athletic field with synthetic turf, a surface later removed from consideration due to local health board objections over forever chemicals.
The contractor will have 120 days to complete the work after the fields are turned over to M.J. Cataldo in late June 2025. Amherst High’s athletic director is aware that there will be a “short term impact” to the fields during the fall sports season, Ziomek said.
In addition to the chain-link fence at the track and a concrete bleacher pad, the other alternatives in the project include walkway improvements along Mattoon Street, as well as new LED lights, poles, wiring and controls at the athletic complex. 20-ft. high ball safety netting and runout chutes on the east side of the track are also set to be installed.
AMHERST from page 14
R&D Continues Growth, Expands Into Other States
R&D from page 16
Joseph Dubreuil highlighted the critical role Ambrose plays in their success.
“Our relationship with Ambrose isn’t just about the equipment — it’s about the service and support they provide,” he said. “Downtime is a major issue in our industry, and Ambrose understands that. When a machine goes down, we’re losing time and money, and we have customers depending on us. Ambrose has always responded immediately to our needs.”
The company’s commitment to customer service extends to every aspect of their business.
“Dave, one of Ambrose’s service experts, even gave me his personal cell phone number so I can reach him anytime,” says Joseph. “They’ve responded to service calls at night and on weekends to ensure we’re up and running the next morning. That level of support is invaluable.”
R&D also values their relationship with Ambrose’s sales team.
“Ryan, our sales rep, does an incredible job,” Joseph said. “He always returns our calls promptly, sets up demos and ensures we have all the information we need to make purchasing decisions. Matt, another key employee at Ambrose, is always available and makes our needs a priority. When you’re investing in equipment that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars, that level of service makes all the difference.”
In today’s digital age, R&D understands the importance of social media.
“Social media is crucial to everything we do,” said Matthew. “It increases our exposure and gets our name in front of potential clients. Even the general public is fascinated by our equipment — they ask questions like ‘What does that machine do?’ or ‘How does it work?’ Social media helps generate interest in our work and the industry as a whole.”
With a team of approximately 32 employees, R&D prioritizes hiring individuals who align with their company culture.
“Hiring in the vocational field is a challenge,” said Joseph. “We use Facebook and LinkedIn for recruiting, but most of our best leads come from referrals by our current employees. If they know someone reliable who would be a good fit, they bring them in.”
This approach has fostered a close-knit work environment.
“There’s a lot of camaraderie in our team,” Joseph said. “New employees are quickly welcomed, and many of our crew members consider their coworkers among their best friends. That culture is what makes us successful. It’s what keeps our customers, vendors, and suppliers wanting to work with us.”
As R&D continues to grow, it is expanding its reach beyond New Hampshire into Vermont and Connecticut.
“Our business is evolving, and we’re taking on new types of projects,” said Matthew. “It’s an exciting time.”
The company’s partnership with Ambrose Equipment remains strong, particularly when it comes to LeeBoy pavers.
“Our LeeBoy 5000, a 2013 model, has been a workhorse for us,” said Joseph. “It’s perfect for tight spaces. The Rosco equipment, including brooms and distributor trucks, has been an excellent addition to our fleet.”
Their loyalty to Ambrose is reinforced by their customerfirst approach.
“We once reached out to another manufacturer’s customer for a demo, and they didn’t even return our call,” Joseph said. “That lack of attention is why we stay with Ambrose. They treat us like a priority, and that means everything.”
From humble beginnings to a thriving second-generation company, R&D Paving remains committed to quality,
integrity, and customer satisfaction. With strong partnerships, a dedicated team, and a clear vision for the future, the Dubreuil family is paving the way for continued success for the next generation and beyond. CEG
(All photographs in this article are Copyright 2025 Construction Equipment Guide. All Rights Reserved.)
R&D Paving uses its Dynapac CC1200 to meet maximum compaction levels.
R&D Paving purchased this Rosco Maximizer 3 from Ambrose Equipment.
THE DOER’S DREAM
Loved for the features. Trusted for the performance.
Do more without feeling like it in Hyundai’s easy to own, easy to operate, skid steer and compact track loader.
Standard features include:
• LED front and rear work lights
• Auto leveling bucket
• Ride control
• Review camera
• Two speed travel
• AM/FM bluetooth radio
• Free Hi MATE telematics access for 5 years
FATAL FALLS HIGHEST IN CONSTRUCTION
has the most fatal falls of all industries 51% representing more than ½ of all work-related falls nationally
CONSTRUCTION
In 2017, fatal falls accounted for 366 of 971
total construction fatalities
Small construction companies 10 or fewer employees ( ( account for of all fatal falls 61%
CONSTRUCTION AUCTION
SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 2025 9:00 A.M.
LOCATION: 210 CHESHIRE ROAD, RT. 68, PROSPECT, CT
Davis Auctions, Inc. will be conducting our next auction of utility and construction equipment and related supplies on March 22, 2025. This auction will consist of excess equipment from the power companies, municipalities, and others to be sold in absolute.
EARLY CONSIGNMENTS: EQUIPMENT
Excavator: SAMSUNG SE130LC-2, thumb, EROPS, Heat/AC; Loader: 1965 CAT 950 Wheel, EROPS; Dozers: 1955 IHI TD9; Wheel Loader Backhoe: 1983 CASE 580D Construction King, EROPS, Heat/AC; Forklift: 2013 NISSAN; 1993 CLARK CPH70; TOYOTA 7FGKU40; Misc.: COLEMAN 1750W Generator;
VEHICLES
Tractor: (2) 2015 INTERNATIONAL Prostar; 1981 PETERBILT 359; Bucket Trucks: 2009 INTERNATIONAL 7400 Workstar w/Altec AM900-E100 Aerial Platform, Altec utility body, 4 outriggers; 2011 INTERNATIONAL 4400 Durastar w/Altec AN50E-00 Bucket, utility body, Maxxforce dsl, 4 outriggers; 2011 INTERNATIONAL 4400 Durastar w/Altec L45D Bucket, utility body, Maxxforce dsl, 2 outriggers; 2009 INTERNATIONAL 4400 Durastar w/Terex Telelect Hi Ranger HR50M Bucket, utility body, Maxxforce dsl, 4 outriggers; 2012 RAM 5500HD w/Altec AT37-G Squirt Boom, Altec utility body, Cummins Turbo dsl;
Misc. Trucks: 2010 INTERNATIONAL 7300 Workstar w/Dakota Enclosed Utility Boday, Maxxforce DT dsl;
Pickups: 2013 FORD F350SD Ext. Cab w/Dakota utility body, 4x4; 2011 FORD F350XL SD w/ladder rack & Tommygate lift gate, 4x4; 2010 FORD F350XL SD Ext. Cab w/Reading utility body & ladder rack, 4x4; 2011 FORD F250SD w/ladder rack & Tommygate lift gate; (4) 2016 GMC Canyon Ext Cab w/tonneau cover, 4x4; (4) 2017-2016 CHEV Colorado Ext Cab w/tonneau cover, 4x4; 2017 CHEV Colorado, 4x4; 2016 TOYOTA Tacoma Ext. Cab w/tonneau cover, 4x4;
SELLING OUT ESTATE OF STREET RODS:
1970 FORD Galaxy 500XL, 351 Windsor, 4 speed; 1967 FORD Mustang 2 Door Coupe, 289 Auto; 1962 FORD Galaxy 500XL, 406- 3 Duces, 4 speed; 1956 MERCURY Custom 2 Door, 312- 3 Duces, 3 speed Overdrive; 1955 FORD Crown Victoria, V8, Auto, Continental Kit; 1954 FORD 2 Door Coupe, 260, 3 speed, Fast Car; 1952 CHEV Delivery Sedan, 6 cylinder, 3 speed; 1940 FORD Standard, 350 Auto; 1929 FORD 2 Door, 260 Motor, Auto, Jag RearALL PARTS ONSITE- OWNER WAS REPLACING RADIATOR
Cars/SUV: 2017 CHEV Traverse, AWD; (3) 2016 CHEV Trax LS, AWD; (6) 20162014 JEEP Patriot, 4x4; 2013 FORD Fusion SE; 2013 FORD Taurus, AWD; 2012 FORD Explorer, 4x4; (2)2011-2010 FORD Escape; 2011 CADILLAC Escalade; Vans: 2016 CHEV Express w/ladder rack & built in office; 2009 GMC Savana w/ladder rack; ATV: 2014 NEW HOLLAND 120, 4x4; Buses: 2011 INTERNATIONAL 3000; Misc.: MAC 21 Drawer Tool Box w/tools; SNAP-ON Tool Box; (3) Car Lifts; LOUVER Installation Kit; TELESIS Laser Marking System; CSZ Environmental Temperature Controller; (6) Plastic Tanks; Trash Pumps; Floor Scrubber; (2) Deep Cycle Batteries; Box Fan; Molder; Radial Arm Saws; Jointers; Wood Shaper; Sanders; Planers; Routers; Unisaws; Band Saws; Drill Presses; Scroll Saws; Grinders; Miter Saws; Contractor Saws; Mortise Tool;
Inspection: Friday, March 21 - 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Online bidding will be available through Proxibid. Please register for online bidding a minimum of 24 hours before sale.
