STAMFORD – O&G Industries is known for its world-class construction services and materials – especially its concrete, or rather the “ingredients” that are used to make that concrete.
The 102-year-old business in northwest Connecticut that started out as a small business hauling sand and stone has grown into the state’s top contractor on highway and building projects. But many people outside Stamford probably would not have guessed it has operated a barge terminal in Stamford Harbor since the 1990s.
“We’re running around 625,000 tons (of sand and stone) by barge a year,” said TJ Oneglia, O&G vice president. “Some of it comes from Connecticut, New Jersey and New York. If we were to put that stuff from those locations on I-95 it would be equivalent to 29,761 one-way truck trips as opposed to 111 barge trips carrying 1,400 tons per barge and four barges in tow.”
Oneglia, a fourth generation executive with O&G, made those comments during a State of Stamford Harbor panel discussion on the transformation of the harbor at the Cohen SoundWaters Harbor Center at Boccuzzi Park on Monday. He was joined by Mayor Caroline Simmons, city Land Use Bureau Chief Ralph Blessing, Stamford Harbor Management Commission Chair Damian Ortelli and SoundWaters President Leigh Schmitz. The moderator for the event was NPR radio host Ira Flatow, who hosts the network’s Science Friday program.
O&G, which is based in Torrington, also owns a sand and stone yard on Canal Street, an asphalt and concrete plant on Davenport Street, a recycling center on Pulaski Street, and a showroom and mason supply store on Meadow Street. They are all located close to the harbor near the terminal.
“We supply construction materials to Fairfield County through the importation of aggregates and sand and stone to be used as basic (products) for drainage systems, structural fill, concrete and asphalt that we make,” Oneglia said.
“These materials go directly into the maintenance and construction of our infrastructure. That’s everything from housing to schools, hospitals, shoreline zones, erosion controls, water distribution, train stations. You guys touch and use this stuff every single day.”
Oneglia pointed out that the average American uses 10.7 tons of sand and stone a year in their lives, whether they know it or not. So, there really is no need to advertise, he says, because “the demand for these products and services we provide exist exclusively as a function of society.”
The products they produce are used in the maintenance and construction of the infrastructure for such projects that include housing, schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, train stations, Oneglia said. The company’s products and services also are used for shoreline resiliency and water and power distribution.
So, how did a company known for making and hauling the building materials from its plants to all over Connecticut and the Tri-state area get into the barge terminal business?
“The properties on the West branch (of the Stamford Harbor) we purchased in the 1990s from (a company) who ran a concrete and asphalt plant prior to us,” Oneglia said. “We were looking for markets to expand into. Over time businesses come up for sale. And (Stamford Harbor dock plant) was a good fit.”
The O&G executive made his case for businesses using barges to ship the raw materials needed for construction projects.
“To get one of the sources of stone in North Branford, to get that stone to Stamford – around 400,000 tons of stone – you would have to drive through 14 different towns. And that’s just the one-way trip to Stamford,” he said. “It’s about 10 times more CO2-friendly to move a ton of material by barge than it is by truck. This is according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.”
Stamford Harbor transformation
O&G plays one part in the recent transformation of Stamford Harbor, but the “heavy lifters” are the city agencies and officials who have guided that transformation.
“My administration is deeply committed to ensuring the Stamford Harbor continues to grow as a vibrant hub for our city,” Mayor Simmons said. “The Stamford Harbor is more than a beautiful body of water. It is a vital resource where our city’s economy, environment, public spaces and community all come together. Its accessibility is directly tied to Stamford’s future growth and quality of life.”
The mayor laid out her vision for the harbor by focusing on four key areas:
- Public safety: “We’re committed to keeping residents safe on and around the water. That includes funding a new Stamford Police boat, (improving) our fire department’s rescue capabilities, improving drone coverage of the harbor for rescue operations and creating new designated ambulance 911 zones to respond quickly to emergencies.”
- Sustainability: “With sea levels expected to rise significantly in the coming decades, we’re investing in long-term coastal resiliency strategies.”
- Public access to the waterfront: “We believe every resident should have the opportunity to enjoy Stamford’s natural beauty. That’s why we’ve expanded pedestrian access points, improved signage and connectivity, and supported programming that brings more people to the waterfront.”
- Infrastructure investment: “Including our parks, beaches and marinas, we have made upgrades to areas like Boccuzzi Park. Phase 1 of the park’s transformation is currently under construction and is expected to be complete by late spring, featuring a reconfigured entrance a new circular drop-off, and restored dune environment with a coastal parking lot. For phase 2 the city has issued an RFP for the final design and construction anticipated to begin in early spring 2026. (It is supported by a $1.8 million National Park Services grant.)
