The senior management and staff of an Austin Co. unit whose troubled project helped push Austin into bankruptcy has been hired by Walbridge Aldinger, the Detroit-based construction firm.

The staff of Pittsburgh-based Ragnar Benson PA Inc. will become a new operating subsidiary of Walbridge Aldinger, says the company’s president, Richard Haller in Nov. 10 announcement.

The new unit will preserve some of the name and be known as Walbridge RB.

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The unit “promises to be another valuable resource for our company,’ says Haller. “We are looking forward to working with this experienced team of professionals to expand our customer services,” in power generation.

Ragnar Benson PA is embroiled in litigation with Old Dominion Electric cooperative over a behind-schedule, 510 MW combustion turbine plant near Remington, Va. The $260-million powerplant, called Marsh Run, began operating in April 2003. Ragnar Benson PA is seeking additional payments in a lawsuit, but Glen Allen, Vas.-based Old Dominion says the claims are without merit and is billing for liquidated damages.

Austin Co. had planned to shut down Ragnar Benson Pa. under the reorganization plan envisioned along with its bankruptcy filing. Most of Austin’s other assets would be sold to AECOM Technology Corp., the Los Angeles based designer and contractor.