Transformational acquisitions of traffic control and safety services companies establish AWP as a market-leading platform for infrastructure field-based services
North Canton, OH – August 2, 2021 – Area Wide Protective (“AWP”), a leading infrastructure services firm, today announced that it has entered into definitive agreements to acquire Statewide Safety Systems (“Statewide”), a leading traffic control services provider based in Irvine, CA, and the traffic safety divisions of Trafficade Service Companies (“Trafficade”), a leading traffic safety services firm based in Phoenix, AZ. The combined company will serve thousands of customers on a daily basis with more than 130 facilities across 27 states and eastern Canada. Terms of the transactions were not disclosed. The transaction excludes Trafficade’s trench shoring and asphalt paving and milling operations which will continue to operate under the newly formed Trench-Ade, LLC.
Together, AWP, Statewide, and Trafficade will have the scale, resources and coast-to-coast reach to deliver superior traffic control and safety services. Customers will benefit from an enhanced service offering, with both new technological capabilities and increased support and resources, including more than 6,500 employees across the organization. This enhanced offering will position the combined company for further growth and geographic expansion. Upon completing the transaction, the combined company will continue to be led by Ron Childress, AWP chairman and chief executive officer.
“AWP is thrilled about the opportunity to join forces with Statewide and Trafficade to enable us to bring even more value to our customers,” Childress stated. “Our combined scale will ensure access to more robust safety services and talent pools to further differentiate us as the leading traffic control provider. We welcome Statewide and Trafficade employees and customers to the AWP family.”
Rob Sehnert, chief integration officer of AWP commented, “Statewide and Trafficade are tremendous fits for AWP. We share a similar vision, culture, and mission for serving our clients with the highest quality of service and support. We are excited about the partnership with Statewide and Trafficade and believe that the combination will result in attractive growth opportunities.”
Don Nicholas, chief executive officer of Statewide added, “I am proud of the accomplishments we have achieved together at Statewide and the successful transformation that the Company has undergone over the last three years. I look forward to working closely with Ron and the rest of the AWP team in this exciting next chapter of growth.”
Jeff Johnson, chief executive officer of Trafficade added, “We are excited about our partnership with AWP and the next phase of growth. Together, we will be able to support our customers in more geographies and deliver a best-in-class service offering.”
Houlihan Lokey and Piper Sandler served as financial advisors and Ropes & Gray LLP served as legal counsel to AWP.
About Area Wide Protective
Founded in 1993, Area Wide Protective, Inc. (AWP) has grown into North America’s leading provider of professional traffic management and protection services. The company’s capabilities range from flagging for work zones to design and engineering for transportation management plans. AWP’s more than 117 locations provide daily operations that span 21 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces. To learn more, visit www.awptrafficsafety.com
About Statewide Safety Systems
Since 1987, Statewide Safety Systems has specialized in the design, manufacture and installation of active and passive traffic control systems that advise motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians of roadway hazards including interchanges, intersections, and the location of highway-rail grade crossings. Customers include state and local government agencies, civil and highway contractors, utilities, airports, military bases, railroads, schools, universities, and commercial and residential contractors. To learn more, visit www.statewidess.com
About Trafficade
Founded in 1990, Trafficade is a diversified company that employs over 300 people with five operating divisions and six branch locations throughout Arizona. The company has shown impressive growth and has a customer centric culture that is known throughout the industry as their Partner in the Work Zone. The Trafficade brand name is also known for its prompt, dependable, and friendly service. Its five operating divisions touch on its customers’ complete work zone needs including: barricades, trench shoring, steel road plates, trench paving, patch paving, pavement milling, asphalt saw cutting, safety product sales, sign manufacturing, sign installation and flagging service. To learn more, visit www.trafficade.com.