Celebrating 80 years of Transforming Infrastructure And Paving the Way for Economic Growth
YONKERS—Travel on most any major highway, bridge, tunnel or rail line in the New York Metro area and chances are that Yonkers Contracting Company has played a role in its construction. For 80 years, Yonkers Contracting has been at the center of New York’s growth story—in building infrastructure and fostering opportunity and resilience while earning a reputation for excellence.
Founded in 1945 at the end of World War II by Edward Petrillo and now led by his son, Carl Petrillo, the enterprise expanded from a traditional road and bridge builder into the diversified infrastructure powerhouse it has become. The Yonkers-based company has transformed the region’s infrastructure from major highways to bridges to tunnels to commuter rail lines. In a sense, the company’s portfolio has literally paved the way to accommodate the region’s economic growth.
In describing the newly formed firm, Edward J. Petrillo said it was to be: “a corporation with a social conscience that provides gainful employment for its people and renders a distinctive service to its clients.”
Now celebrating its 80th anniversary, the company has completed more than 1,350 projects at an estimated cost of $13 billion across Westchester and New York State. Its fleet of modern and traditional equipment as well as specialized foundation and road machinery are all geared to today’s complex construction challenges—resulting in winning bids, meeting schedules and delivering profitable, high-quality outcomes.
Yonkers Contracting’s evolution reflects its ability to adapt and expand with the times. Beyond bridges and highways, the company now constructs electrical substations, wastewater treatment plants, parking structures, railroad facilities, and commercial and industrial buildings. This breadth of expertise is a testament to the company’s ability to grow, pivot, and capture new markets while delivering successful projects to both public and private owners, all while remaining true to its roots, calling Yonkers its home for eight decades and counting.
The company’s most challenging project to date was the World Trade Center PATH Restoration Program following the 9/11 attack, which involved restoring critical transit links for the Port Authority. Modernizing vital Bronx corridors with the Design/Build replacement of two Bronx River Parkway Bridges in 2024 for the New York State Department of Transportation is the firm’s single largest project to date.
Other landmark projects undertaken by Yonkers Contracting include the Brooklyn Bridge Emergency Deck Replacement, LaGuardia Airport East Parking Garage, Route 17 Exit 131 Reconstruction, IBM complex in Somers, reconstruction of I-684 from Saw Mill Parkway to Brewster, Yonkers Raceway and Atlantic City-Brigantine Connector. Most recently, the firm was selected as the general contractor for the new Westchester Joint Water Works’ Rye Lake filtration plant, which is expected to crest $200 million when all in.
The company has done significant work for the New York State Department of Transportation, including rebuilding the West Side Highway, and for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection on the North River Sewage Treatment Plant along the West Side Highway from 137th Street to 145th Street.
Jack Donnelly, vice president and project manager, said, “The secret of our success is that we have people here who want to be here and stay here for a long period of time” His tenure spans 28 years with the company. “You have this incredible expertise. I really credit that to Carl Petrillo. He’s very involved in every bid. He sets where we’re going. He’s steering the ship. He has the vision and the leadership. That’s why I came here.”
Bill Jordan, former senior vice president of Construction, observed, “Carl wants you to think out of the box. He promotes that and rewards that. I think that has helped the company progress over the years. The people at Yonkers Contracting are very talented. You have to be doing something right if you’re going to be here for 80 years.”
Mr. Jordan, who retired in 2022 after spending 39 years with the company, added, “Construction is not a business for the weak at heart. It’s a very tough business.”
Published: October 16, 2025.