Labor Day may have passed, but summer is still going strong on westbound I-696 in Southfield. While the roadway remains open, a team works behind concrete barriers around a large machine. Ahead of the machine sits a concrete truck, feeding the Gomaco barrier paver the concrete it needs to set a barrier wall behind it as it slowly moves forward.

Operating Engineers 324 member and Dan’s Excavating barrier wall foreman, Paul Ethington, looks on as the machine goes to work. Ethington has been with OE324 for 14 years and with Dan’s for the last four. As he oversees the process to ensure it runs smoothly—the concrete poured into the front of the machine, up the auger, down through the hopper, processed by vibrators, and finally slipping out the back to form the cast-in-place barrier wall—he pays particular attention to the machine operator. That operator is his son, second-year apprentice Logan Ethington, who has been operating the machine for Dan’s this summer.

“It makes you proud someone’s going to follow in your footsteps,” says the elder Ethington. The father and son have been working together for Dan’s since Logan began the apprenticeship. The barrier walls they are constructing this week are just one part of the massive I-696 project for which Dan’s Excavating is responsible.

It’s hard to travel far in many parts of Michigan without seeing a Dan’s Excavating crew hard at work. A drive from Southfield to Brighton passes through three separate but related projects—this one on I-696, as well as ongoing work on I-96 and US-23.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Dan’s Excavating. As one of the largest signatory contractor employers of Operating Engineers 324 members, they have a mountain of projects on their resume. The company has partnered with OE324 for over 40 of its 50 years, building careers while rebuilding Michigan.

“Dan’s Excavating is proud to celebrate its 50th year in business as a family-owned and operated Michigan-based heavy civil contractor,” explains Dan’s Excavating President Justin Peyerk. In 1974, Dan Peyerk founded Dan’s Excavating as a small underground contractor, and in 1980, the company began self-performing its own structural and bridge work. In 1998, Dan was succeeded by his son, Chris Peyerk, who took over as president. In 2018 Jim Doescher took over as president for Dan’s Excavating until 2024, when Justin Peyerk became the current president. Dan’s now employs over 600 workers during the construction season, performing heavy civil work, structural and electrical work for Michigan DOT, local municipalities, airports, and other clients.

The I-696 project is a massive undertaking. Dan’s Excavating and other contractors on their team are responsible for, and are self-performing, nearly nine miles of concrete reconstruction, curb and gutter installation, sidewalks, sidewalk ramps, culverts, sewers, drainage systems, steel piling, sheet piling, cofferdams, electrical, ITS and the rehabilitation of seven structures and several precast concrete culverts from I-275 to Lahser Road.

Self-performing so much work requires highly skilled Operating Engineers like Juan Alaniz, who is in his first year with Dan’s. Almiz, a 30-year construction veteran with over 20 years as a laborer prior to becoming an operator, is currently operating an excavator on the I-696 project.

“I started here about three months ago, and I helped tear out the old roadway,” he explains. “Now I’m digging dirt and sand to get ready for the next stage.”

Ethington notes that it hasn’t been easy.

“This year, the main challenge has been the time schedule and the weather. There has been a lot of rain, so sometimes it means longer hours and longer days.”

However, he explains that, while such challenges are part of the job, working for Dan’s has made it easier.

“Working for Dan’s is excellent in the way they treat and take care of us.”

Second-year apprentice Damian Jezewski appreciates the steady hours.

“It keeps me busy!”

Jezewski became an operator after growing up around farming and spending three years as a laborer. At that point, he says, “it was time to step up my game.”

With Dan’s, he has worked on the I-696 project all year after being on I-275 for the past few. He operates a finish grader and an excavator and looks forward to expanding his skills with classes over the winter at the OE324 Construction Career Center.

“I’m looking forward to finishing up my excavator classes and taking dozer classes,” says Jezewski. “That’s the best part of a union apprenticeship—the learning and gaining experience. The school has really been fantastic.”

Peyerk highlights the strong relationship between Dan’s and OE324’s registered apprenticeship program. “OE324’s apprenticeship program has provided, and continues to provide, a great avenue for many entering the industry. In partnership with companies like Dan’s, we’ve been able to mentor and teach many of these apprentices, who become operators running a multitude of equipment.”

Over on the US-23 project, Operator Chuck Davis is on the other end of that timeline. Davis has been an operator for over 30 years—“I just got my certificate!”—and with Dan’s Excavating for 15. He became an Operating Engineer “pretty much right out of the sandbox” and joined OE324 in his late twenties, drawn by “the money, benefits, and because I had kids.”

On the US-23 project, he has been operating a loader all year. He appreciates the steady work Dan’s has secured through successful bids.

“They are steady,” says Davis. “Steady as they come. Everything is paid on time, and the longest layoff I’ve ever had here was two weeks.”

On US-23, Dan’s and other contractors on their team are self-performing 7.46 miles of hot-mix asphalt reconstruction and shoulder widening for a flex route, crash site construction, interchange reconfigurations, epoxy overlay, substructure and railing patching, concrete surface coating, steel structure cleaning and coating, heat straightening, retaining walls, sound walls, ITS equipment, drainage, lighting, and pavement markings from south of M-36 to Spencer Road in Livingston County.

Jason Bunker has been with Dan’s for five years. Today, he’s operating a “clown car”—a rubber-tired excavator—prepping for asphalt.

“Dan’s is great,” he says. “I’ve worked on everything. Tearing out concrete. Digging slurry ponds in Monroe… work at Metro Airport, I-275, I-94 in Jackson, M-14.”

He laughs and adds, “I’ve been everywhere.”

Peyerk explains Dan’s Excavating’s high success rate in landing projects. “At Dan’s, we are a heavy civil contractor, and the majority of our work is awarded based on low-bid systems with state and local DOTs. We’ve been successful by providing exceptional personnel and working with the owner to deliver projects fully within the timelines and budgets of the contracts.”

OE324 member Tim Cook is one of many exceptional personnel Peyerk referenced. His excavator sits atop a large pile of topsoil, which he is mixing with sand to thin it for easier spreading around sidewalks.

Cook has been an operator his entire life and an OE324 member for 25 years. He has worked for many contractors, but before Dan’s, he had never worked for a road contractor.

“I used to operate cranes,” Cook explains. “That was before the dirt work. But I found the sweatier the palms, the more I liked it.”

Typically a GPS dozer operator, Cook has been doing various other tasks on US-23 this year—his third with Dan’s.

“On this project, there isn’t much of that [GPS dozer], so I do what needs to be done. I’ve been told I’m versatile.”

He laughs heartily before continuing. “But being versatile keeps things interesting and keeps me busy.”

Cook joined the union “for a better life.”

“Pension, insurance. My dad was a Teamster, so I knew union was better.”

Bunker agrees. He has two sons who followed him into the union trades.

“My son is in 324—he has been for three years and is working on solar farms up by the bridge now. I have another son in the Laborers Union—he’s up there too. Both got their start right here with Dan’s.”

For Peyerk, these stories go hand in hand.

“Dan’s and OE324 have maintained a successful partnership in large part due to both parties’ commitment to excellence and improvement,” he says. “OE324 operators are qualified, dependable individuals who take pride in the work they perform. This dedication to excellence is mirrored at Dan’s and has allowed the partnership to thrive.”

Operating Engineers 324 member and foreman-in-training Zack Szerlag couldn’t agree more. Szerlag started with Dan’s six years ago after one year at a different contractor.

“I saw an opportunity [to work for Dan’s], and I jumped at it.”

Szerlag began at the Metro Airport project, operating a 416 backhoe.

“I worked my way up to a water truck in year one,” he explains. “The next year, Dan’s had me on excavators and dozers.”

Szerlag credits Dan’s with giving him the path to grow in a career he loves.

“We’ve got all the work!” he exclaims joyfully. “Look at all the highways we’re on. We’re everywhere!”

Szerlag continued his training and was made a foreman-in-training this year. He is exceptionally proud of the work he and his colleagues at Dan’s undertake and deliver.

“The freedom to work in different areas, not being surrounded by walls. I love nature, and I think everyone can agree they love driving on smooth roads. I’m proud to be part of that.”

Cook echoes the sentiment.

“I always tell people, ‘We’re building America one mile at a time.’ I’m very proud of that.”

The future looks bright, but with a nod to the past. For 50 years, Dan’s Excavating has been building Michigan, and for the last 40-plus years, they have been doing it side by side with Operating Engineers 324. It’s an anniversary to celebrate and a great partnership.

For Szerlag, that partnership is key.

“Local 324 and Dan’s Excavating have made it possible for me to support my three kids and my lovely wife, Allison,” he says. “And I’m grateful for that.” Well said! 