International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825

The monumental Gateway Project is moving – under the ground and across the river, beginning with replacement of the century-old Portal Bridge. And right in the middle of it is Lalevee, the business manager of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825 and vice president of the IUOE’s general executive board. His members – more than 8,000 strong – are already at work.

Lalevee is “focused on the state’s economy and his members’ employment — getting infrastructure projects moving and approved.” In doing so, Lalevee is an important advocate for infrastructure work, including, for now, the replacement of the Newark Bay Bridge on the New Jersey Turnpike and a multibillion first phase of widening the approach into the Holland Tunnel.

While the leaders of the Gateway project believe that the work is unstoppable, there is some concern that the new administration in Washington might not be as enthusiastic as the Biden White House was about infrastructure funding. If so, Lalevee and others in similar positions will have their work cut out for them in helping to keep all of the various projects on track.