Our History

OCCI
ALWAYS EXCEEDING THE CLIENT'S EXPECTATIONS FOR QUALITY, SAFETY, AND SCHEDULE

OCCI, Inc. was founded in 1985, based in Fulton, Missouri. While we started as a small Mid-Missouri DOT bridge construction company, OCCI now performs work East of the Rockies to the Atlantic, and both northern and southern international borders.

OCCI is known for our innovative approach with construction techniques and engineering solutions. 

 

We approach every project with a collaborative mindset, drawing on decades of diverse experience to solve challenges efficiently and creatively. Our team thrives on developing unique, effective solutions—sometimes even the unconventional ones that get the job done. OCCI is regularly chosen to present at engineering conferences around the country such as AREMA and IBC. 

 

OCCI self performs the majority of the work disciplines for our projects and while our staff numbers are smaller compared to some of our competitors, we consistently make a big impact on construction ingenuity. Our crews are highly trained, experienced, and take pride in their work. They consistently deliver quality results, no matter the complexity of the task.

 

The key to OCCI’s success is our exceptional staff who reflect our core values: Safety, Drive, Integrity and Teamwork

 

With strong market focus on complex Class 1 Railroad bridge construction, DOT projects and lock and dam rehabilitation, OCCI has established an extraordinary reputation among qualified construction professionals as the company to turn to for complex jobs many contractors refuse to tackle.

MOFAB
Missouri Fabricators: Your Strategic Advantage in Steel Fabrication.

Founded in 1993 as the steel fabrication division of OCCI, Missouri Fabricators (MOFAB) was built to eliminate third-party dependencies and enhance project delivery. This means more aggressive bidding, guaranteed timelines, and seamless integration for your heavy-civil construction projects.

 

Beyond standard fabrication, MOFAB is an AISC certified shop specializing in:

  • Advance Building Fabrication
  • Bridge Fabrication - Advanced
  • Fracture Control Endorsement
  • Complex Coating Endorsement 1 - Enclosed
  • Hydraulic Fabrication

What sets us apart? As the "contractor's fabricator," we leverage our deep heavy-civil construction experience to anticipate and resolve field details that standard fabricators often miss. Partner with MOFAB for steel solutions engineered for your success.

Safety  Drive  Integrity  Teamwork

 

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2025
1984
Founded in 1984
George Johnson, founder of St. Louis Bridge Company, taps his nephew, Tom Smith and son-in-law Ted Kettlewell to start a non-union bridge construction company to compete outside of the St. Louis construction market.
1985
Osage Bridge Company
Osage Bridge Company opens its doors in Boone County north of Columbia in a small building in a former lumber yard. The four employees are Tom Smith, Ted Kettlewell and their wives, Jane and Susanna. Their focus is small DOT County bridges.
1987
A Milestone Achievement: Our First Profit
The company officially makes a profit for the first time!
1988
A Move Toward Growth
Osage Bridge Company puchases 10 acres in Callaway County, builds a wood frame building, and move operations to the new location.
1991
Expanding Our Client List
Osage Bridge Company changes its name to Osage Constructors, Inc.and is awarded its first project for the US Army Corps of Engineers, expanding the company's business beyond DOT bridges.
1993
OCCI builds Missouri Fabricators at its home office, to provide OCCI a reliable steel fabrication supplier.
1998
Missouri Fabricators earns its status as an AISC certificatied steel fabricator expanding its market to third party contractors.
1999
To avoid confusion with another construction company, an attempt is made to change the name to "OCI, Inc." when it is discovered an "OCI" already exists in Missouri, an additional 'C' is added. OCCI, Inc is the company name for good.
2005
Union Pacific awards OCCI its first project for a Class 1 Railroad. The contract is ultimately cancelled due to efforts to preserve the bridge for historical purposes. The business relationship is established with UP and the next year, OCCI is awarded the contract to replace the Kate Shelley Bridge in Boone, IA., this will become a landmark project for OCCI.
2008
OCCI moves into its newly built office headquarters, replacing a steel pole-barn style building.
2020
OCCI officers buy out St. Louis Bridge Company and offer stock ownership to a new generation of OCCI employees, securing succession of the organization.
2021
OCCI's project for Canadian National Railway wins the William W. Hay award for excellence in Rail construction. See the one-of-a-kind "Bridge Builder" in action here:
2025
OCCI celebrates 40 years in business with a $10 million expansion of Missouri Fabricators adding state of the art cutting and material handling equipment.