Great Southwestern Construction, Inc. (Great Southwestern or GSWC) was founded in the late 1970s in Castle Rock, Colo. by Bob Martinez, a New Mexico native and Vietnam veteran. He envisioned developing a company that would assist in serving the rapidly growing Southwestern United States, hence the name Great Southwestern.
The startup became a well-respected co-op contractor in the early 1980s, and the Department of Reclamation awarded GSWC a portion of the fiber and power systems for the multi-billion-dollar Central Arizona Irrigation project, bringing water resources to Phoenix and other rapidly growing Southwest cities. This project was instrumental in propelling the company’s future growth.
GSWC began bidding and working in states outside the Southwest and Rocky Mountains by the 1990s. New transmission and substation projects for Nebraska, Texas, the Dakotas, Washington, and Oregon clients drive regional growth for the company. To accommodate growth, GSWC opens its Castle Rock, Colorado headquarters.
GSWC established a Department of Labor-certified apprenticeship program in 1992 to build and train its workforce and allow field employees to become journeyman linemen.
In 1995, El Paso Electric awarded GSWC its first Master Service Agreement (MSA).
Geographic expansion continued and GSWC opens a new office in Georgia to help serve a new distribution MSA with Georgia Power. Large, 500kV transmission projects in Oregon and Washington help build the company’s resume, as does fiber optic work throughout the Southwest.
MYR Group acquired GSWC in 2001, providing the company with strong financial resources and one of the largest specialty equipment fleets in the nation.
GSWC is awarded the Cross Texas Transmission project (CTT) for LS Power. At 235 miles of 345kV transmission, one of the largest projects of its kind, it was part of the massive CREZ transmission build-out that helped establish GSWC as one of the larger electrical contractors in Texas.
A new office near Dallas is opened to support the market’s continued growth.
Oncor Electric awarded GSWC an MSA for substation, transmission, and distribution projects across their operational territory.
New offices and personnel in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and Corpus Christi, Texas bring new opportunities and growth.
GSWC branched into the Midwest and Southeastern U.S., and an office in Norcross, Georgia is opened to better serve new clients in the Southeast and Florida.
The company begins construction work for several utility clients throughout the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic.
A new fleet center and training facility in Alvarado, Texas is acquired to continue the growth in the market and to build an industry-leading training center for its growing apprenticeship program.
Electrical utilities facing limited internal resources and a growing project backlog are increasingly using alternative delivery methods for transmission and distribution work. Progressive design-build is presented as a collaborative project delivery approach that brings construction expertise into the design process.
Great Southwestern Construction launched a live-line barehand program to support utilities as their needs changed. The article emphasizes that listening to partners and understanding their goals has helped the company maintain long-lasting utility relationships.
Great Southwestern Construction’s Director of Training shared expertise with EC&M Magazine about robotic arms used in energized work. EC&M’s October 2025 edition highlighted the growing use of collaborative robots, or “cobots,” to improve productivity and safety on job sites, citing Great Southwestern among several companies.
Great Southwestern general foreman Robert Blaney studied psychology and medicine in college before choosing a career in linework. After graduating from Northwest Linemen College in California, he performed transmission work in several states, then joined Great Southwestern and its apprenticeship program.
The hurricanes Helene and Milton underscored the importance of dedicated lineworkers during a busy storm season. After Milton, Sarasota resident Natalie Adams navigated streets blocked by downed trees to find electricity and charge her phone.
Great Southwestern began working for Oncor in 2014 with a single substation crew. The partnership has grown, and today 500 to 600 Great Southwestern employees support Oncor’s substation, distribution, and energized and deenergized transmission needs. The latest 345kV line restoration is described as a testament to the trusted partnership.
Great Southwestern Construction’s Castle Rock, Colorado office organized a community cleanup as part of a day of service marking the 21st anniversary of 9/11. The company also made a charitable donation to the Hope For The Warriors Foundation to support families of service members lost in service.