About Borneke
Borneke is a family-owned civil construction organization with roots that go back to 1964. What began as a Minnesota-based contractor has grown into a team trusted for complex, schedule-driven work across a wide range of project types and site conditions. From early earthwork to final restoration, our focus is simple: build stable infrastructure, keep the jobsite moving, and deliver finished work that performs the way it should.
Today, Borneke operates through specialized construction companies, including Don Borneke Construction, Inc. and Borneke Construction, Inc. This structure allows us to staff the right crews, equipment, and leadership for the scope in front of us. Whether a project is tied to renewable energy, industrial development, municipal infrastructure, or large-scale site work, we approach it with disciplined planning, clear communication, and field decisions that reduce rework.
Experience Across Regions and Terrain
Civil construction is rarely predictable. Soil can vary dramatically across a single site, groundwater can change the plan quickly, and weather can force constant adjustments. Because of that, we put a heavy emphasis on preparation, sequencing, and practical field execution. Our crews have worked in all types of terrain, from southern Texas through the Midwest and into Canada, and we bring that experience into every schedule, haul plan, and grading strategy.
Many of the projects we support are remote and high-production by nature. That means access needs to hold up, staging needs to function, and drainage needs to work under real traffic and real weather. We plan around those realities, coordinate daily with other trades, and keep the workflow steady so each phase supports the next without creating delays downstream.
Renewable Energy Civil Construction Leadership
Don Borneke Construction, Inc. completed its first civil wind project in 2000. Since that time, our teams have completed more than 60 renewable energy civil projects totaling over 3,200 turbines and approximately 7,000 MW. We have supported wind development in multiple states and Canada, working alongside developers, engineers, and general contractors who require predictable production and clean closeout.
Utility-scale wind and solar projects create unique constraints. Environmental requirements can be strict and time-sensitive. Soil conditions can change rapidly. Access needs to remain stable for turbine deliveries, cranes, and ongoing site traffic. Because of that, we treat civil scope as a system, not a checklist. We build stable roads, manage water responsibly, and finish grades with long-term site performance in mind so the owner can maintain the asset efficiently for years.
What We Build and Support in the Field
Borneke’s typical civil infrastructure scope covers the work that keeps a project moving from mobilization to restoration. Early in the project, that includes site clearing and building laydown yards and staging areas that support clean logistics. As construction ramps up, we construct turbine access roads, manage road maintenance and dust control, and perform public road and intersection upgrades when the project demands it.
We also support the heavy lift phase by building crane travel paths, crane pads, and laydown pads that hold up under real-world traffic and tight schedules. For turbine and foundation scope, our teams handle foundation excavation, dewatering when necessary, and backfill and compaction to meet specifications. Where conditions demand added stability, we coordinate with project partners on the right approach and deliver the earthwork and subgrade preparation needed for consistent access and dependable road performance.
Stormwater compliance and environmental protection are integrated into how we work. We implement erosion and sediment control and support storm water management so the site remains functional and compliant throughout construction. We also provide turbine delivery assistance and crane assistance so critical moves stay on time
