The Association was formed in 1945 and was originally known as the Prairie Roadbuilders Section, Alberta Division, Canadian Construction Association.

In 1956 it was recognized that the Association had increased in importance and membership to the point where a separate entity was formed under the name of the Alberta Roadbuilders Association. In 1986 the name of the Association was changed to the Alberta Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association in order to better reflect the diverse groups represented by it.

Western Canada Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association and the Canadian Construction Association has been maintained and the Association continues to increase steadily, made up of both regular and associate members. Regular members consist of contracting firms engaged in highway and heavy construction, and other operators judged to be of a similar nature in the province of Alberta.

Associate members consist of machinery, equipment, supply, insurance and financial companies, and others of an allied nature whose affiliation will assist the Association in the realization of its objectives in the province of Alberta.

The objectives of the ARHCA are:

A. to provide educational opportunities and other tools to our members to foster improvement in environmental practices, safety and general welfare of ARHCA member companies, their company employees and the public.

B. to raise the awareness among members, their employees, and the general public about the significant roles transportation infrastructure and the construction industry play in Canada’s economic health and standard of living.

C. to promote harmonious working relationships among its members and other associations, companies and persons for the benefit of the industry as a whole.

D. to disseminate among the members information on matters affecting the roadbuilding and heavy construction industry in Alberta.

E. to provide opportunities for the exchange of information and opinions with governments and other agencies and to negotiate any problems within the scope of the Association.

F. to co-operate with or assist any association or institution with similar objectives, whether or not their activities are carried on in Alberta.

G. to seek registration status and bargain for the Group A member contractors subject to registration under the Alberta Labor Act.

H. to remain unaffiliated with any political party.

I. to represent all sectors of the roadbuilding and heavy construction industry represented by the membership.