Document:

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                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.255

                            EIGHTH AMENDMENT TO LEASE

     This Eighth Amendment to Lease (this "Amendment") is dated for reference
purposes this 20th day of November, 2003, between SOFI IV-SPM PORTFOLIO XI,
L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company ("Landlord") and MEADOW VALLEY
CONTRACTORS, INC., a Nevada corporation ("Tenant").

                                    RECITALS

     Broadway Commerce Centre Limited Partnership ("Original Landlord") and
Tenant entered into that certain Lease Agreement, dated May 16, 1995, as amended
by that First Amendment to Lease dated June 22, 1995, the Second Amendment to
Lease dated April 1, 1996, the Third Amendment to Lease dated April 15, 1996,
the Fourth Amendment to Lease dated September 1, 1997, the Fifth Amendment to
Lease dated December 15, 1997 between Landlord (as the successor-in-interest to
Original Landlord) and Tenant, the Sixth Amendment to Lease dated December 29,
1998, and the Seventh Amendment to Lease dated as of October 18, 2000
(collectively, the "Lease"), covering the office space located at 4001-4013 East
Broadway Road, 4411 South 40th Street (the "Building"), Suites D-8, D-10 and
D-l1, in Phoenix, Arizona 85040, currently consisting of a total of
approximately 2,093, 1,177 and 5,010 rentable square feet, respectively (the
"Leased Premises").

     Landlord and Tenant desire to amend the Lease to revise the Lease to, among
other modifications, extend the term of the Lease. Upon the terms and conditions
contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Landlord and Tenant agree that the
Lease is amended as follows:

                                    AGREEMENT

     1. Effective Date. The effective date of the Lease amendments set forth in
this Amendment is January 1, 2004 (the "Effective Date").

     2. Defined Terms. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have
the meanings ascribed to them in the Lease.

     3. Extension of Term. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the
Lease, the term of the Lease will be extended through December 31, 2008 (the
"Fourth Extended Term"). The Fourth Extended Term will be deemed to commence on
the Effective Date and will be on the same terms and conditions as the Lease,
except as otherwise provided in this Eighth Amendment. During the Fourth
Extended Term, all references in the Lease to the "Lease term" or the "term"
will mean the Fourth Extended Term.

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     4. Rent. During the Fourth Extended Term, Tenant shall pay a total of
$535,798.00 as rent for the entire Fourth Extended Term as Minimum Rent as
follows:

<TABLE>
<S>                                     <C>
January 1, 2004  --  January 31, 2004          $0/mo (8,280rsf @ $0/rsf/mo)
February 1, 2004 -- December 31, 2004   $8,694.00/mo (8,280rsf @ $1.05/rsf/mo)
January l, 2005  -- December 31, 2007   $9,108.00/mo (8,280rsf @ $1.10/rsf/mo)
January 1, 2008  -- December 31, 2008   $9,356.40/mo (8,280rsf @ $1.13/rsf/mo)
</TABLE>

These amounts do not include Rental Taxes, Tenant's share of Taxes and Costs of
Operating and Maintaining the Property, or any other sums payable to Landlord
under the Lease, all of which will remain payable during the Fourth Extended
Term.

     5. Base Allowance. As of the Effective Date, Line 4 of Section 3.2 of the
Lease is amended by deleting the year "1995" and inserting in its place the year
"2004." The new base allowance shall apply to all suites currently occupied by
Tenant.

     6. Storage Rental. During the Fourth Extended Term, Tenant shall lease
Suite B-13A, currently consisting of 659 square feet, as Storage space at
$350.00 per month, plus rental taxes thereon. Section 3.2 of the Lease shall not
apply to the Storage space described herein. During the Fourth Extended Term,
Landlord shall furnish a portable evaporative cooling unit for use in Suite
B-13A. The portable evaporative cooling unit shall remain the property of
Landlord and be surrendered with the Leased Premises at the expiration of the
term of the Lease, or on sooner termination of the Lease.

     7. Early Termination. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the
Lease, provided Tenant is not in default under the Lease, Tenant shall have a
three-time option to terminate the Least (each an "Early Termination Right"),
the first to be effective December 31, 2005, the second to be effective December
31, 2006, and the third to be effective December 31, 2007 (each an "Early
Termination Date"). To exercise an Early Termination Right, Tenant must (a)
deliver written notice to Landlord that Tenant desires to terminate the Lease as
of the Early Termination Date at least one hundred twenty (120) days prior to
the applicable Early Termination Date; and (b) immediately pay Landlord an
amount equal to Landlord's then unamortized costs of the free rent provided for
the month of January 2004 ($8,694.00) and the commissions related to the Fourth
Extended Term ($40,184.91). If Tenant exercises an Early Termination Right,
Tenant shall vacate the Leased Premises in accordance with the terms of the
Lease. From and after such time as Tenant gives notice of its election to
exercise the Early Termination Right, Landlord shall have the right to show the
Leased Premises to prospective tenants and affix signs to the Property, with
reasonable notice to Tenant. If Tenant fails to exercise an Early Termination
Right in accordance with the requirements of this Section 7 of this Amendment,
that Early Termination Right shall terminate automatically.

     8. Option to Renew. Provided that the Lease is then in full force and
effect and Tenant is not in default, on the date of exercise of this option or
the commencement of the Renewal Term (as later defined), hereunder after notice
and the expiration of any applicable grace period, Tenant shall have the option
to extend the Fourth Extended Term for one (1)

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additional period of three (3) years (the "Renewal Term") by providing written
notice to Landlord one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the expiration of the
Fourth Extended Term. If the option to extend the term of the Lease is exercised
by Tenant as provided in this Amendment, the Renewal Term shall commence on
January 1, 2009 and expire on December 31, 2011 unless the Renewal Term shall
sooner end pursuant to this Lease. The Minimum Rent payable during the Renewal
Term shall be the then current market rate for similar space in similar class
buildings in the Phoenix area, as determined by Landlord in its sole reasonable
estimation, but in no event shall Minimum Rent be less than the Minimum Rent as
of the last month of the Term. All other terms and provisions of the Lease shall
be applicable during the Renewal Term with the same force and effect as during
the Term.

     9. Remaining Lease Terms. Except as expressly amended by this Amendment,
all the terms, covenants, and conditions of the Lease remain in full force and
effect. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Amendment
and the Lease, the provisions of this Amendment shall control.

     10. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in counterparts and by
facsimile signature, each of which when executed and delivered or faxed shall be
an original, but all such counterparts shall constitute one and the same
instrument.

                      [signature page immediately follows]

                                       3

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     Landlord and Tenant, intending to be legally bound, have executed this
Eighth Amendment to Lease as of the date first written above.

     Landlord:

                              SOFI IV-SPM PORTFOLIO XI, L.L.C.,
                              a Delaware limited liability company

                              BY: SOFI IV-SPM MARICOPA, L.P.,
                                  General Manager

                                  BY: SOFI IV ARIZONA TRUST,
                                      General Partner

                                      By:
                                          --------------------------------------
                                      Name:
                                            ------------------------------------
                                      Title:
                                             -----------------------------------

     Tenant:

                              MEADOW VALLEY CONTRACTORS, INC.
                              a Nevada corporation

                              By: /s/ Kenneth D. Nelson
                                  ---------------------------
                              Name: KENNETH D. NELSON
                              Title: VICE PRESIDENT

                                       4<PAGE>

                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.256

                        SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE

     THIS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE ("Settlement Agreement") is entered
into this 8th day of January, 2004, by and between Meadow Valley Contractors,
Inc., (hereafter, Plaintiff) and the New Mexico Department of Transportation,
(hereafter, Defendant) to memorialize that the parties stipulate, covenant and
agree as follows:

     1. Plaintiff has asserted various claims against the Defendant in
connection with highway construction projects commonly referred to as
TPA-NH-070-4(31)260 CN209l;TPA-0048(l2) CN1738; and, TPA-(TPO)-0048(10)CN0999R
(hereafter, the Projects); and, Defendant has denied the validity of and any
liability on those claims, and has asserted its contractual rights to withhold
retainage and liquidated damages.

     2. The parties have engaged in the required administrative reviews of the
claims made and issues raised.

     3. Plaintiff and Defendant have engaged in lengthy negotiations during
mediations of the Projects in an effort to attempt resolution of the claims made
and issues raised by the parties in connection with the Projects.

     4. Plaintiff filed suit on its claims in the First Judicial District Court
with cause numbers D-0101-CV-2002-01586(CN2091)and D-0101-CV-2003-01162(CN
1738R); but, had not filed suit on CN 0999R prior to reaching this Accord.

     5. As a result of the mediation of the claims made in connection with the

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Projects, the parties have reached an Accord with regard to all the claims and
issues between them; but, without regard to the validity or invalidity of the
claims or defenses raised by either party.

     6. As part of that Accord, the parties desire to provide for full and final
settlement in discharge of all claims and actions arising out of or connected in
any way to the Projects and to discharge one another from any and all liability
for their respective claims; provided, that the parties agree that this Accord
and settlement shall have no effect on other projects and/or claims or defenses
raised in connection with other projects not specifically referenced in this
document.

     7. In satisfaction of this Accord, Defendant agrees to pay, and Plaintiff
agrees to accept the full, final and total sum of Seven Million Dollars
($7,000,000.00), plus applicable New Mexico Gross Receipts Tax, as a lump sum
settlement, payment and discharge of all contractual obligations and all claims
which were made, or which could have been made by or through Plaintiff or by
Defendant on each of the Projects. The parties acknowledge and agree that this
amount, together with those sums already paid, represents all that will be paid
or released by Defendant, and all that will be accepted or received by Plaintiff
on each of the Projects, it being the intent of the parties to fully and finally
resolve all issues on the Projects including the parties' claims regarding
retainage, liquidated damages, change orders, interest and claims of any other
nature or description.

     8. In further satisfaction of this Accord, and in consideration of the
mutual agreements, payments, and releases contained in this Settlement
Agreement, the

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parties agree to release and forever discharge one another and their insurers
and sureties, including but not limited to Insurance Company of the State of
Pennsylvania, from any and all liability, contractual or otherwise, including
all claims which were made, or which could have been made or raised in
connection with the Projects and in connection with all work prosecuted, all
materials and labor provided, and all claims for additional compensation on the
Projects.

     9. As a condition precedent to payment of the amount agreed to, Plaintiff
agrees to submit the following documents for each Project to Defendant:
FULLY EXECUTED FINAL ESTIMATE FORM and PAYMENT VOUCHER;
FINAL CHANGE ORDER MEMORIALIZING THIS ACCORD;
PIT RELEASES OR PROOF OF COMMERCIAL PIT DESIGNATION OR COPIES
OF LONG TERM LEASES;
CONSENT OF SURETIES;
PR 47 FEDERAL EQUIPMENT, LABOR AND MATERIAL FORM; and,
COMPLETED CERTIFICATION OF PAYMENT OF CLAIMS FORM.

     10. Within seven (7) days of the execution of the Settlement Agreement,
Defendant shall prepare and deliver the Change Orders required above to
Plaintiff.

     11. Within seven (7) days of the receipt from Plaintiff by Defendant of the
executed Change Orders, Defendant shall prepare and deliver to Plaintiff the
Final Estimate Forms and Payment Vouchers required above to Plaintiff for
execution.

     12. Within 45 days of receipt by Department of all the documents referred
to in Paragraph 9 above, fully executed and completed by Plaintiff, Defendant
shall

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make the payment agreed to in Paragraph 7.

     13. Plaintiff agrees to indemnify and hold Defendant harmless from any and
all claims, charges, liens, causes of action, damages of any nature or other
demands by any mechanics, materialmen, subcontractors, utility providers,
vendors, suppliers, or others providing labor, services or materials to Meadow
Valley or its subcontractors on the Projects.

     14. The parties agree that this Settlement Agreement and the parties'
Accord and settlement shall be interpreted and construed according to New Mexico
law.

     15. The parties stipulate and agree that none of the terms of this Accord
and Settlement Agreement or the parties' negotiations shall be argued or
construed to constitute a waiver of the parties' rights and/or obligations under
other contracts or constitute any sort of estoppel or bar to enforcement of
their respective rights, claims, defenses and/or obligations under other
contracts between them, Johnson & Danley or their sureties.

     16. The parties warrant and agree that their respective representatives
participating in the mediation referred to above have the full and final
authority to reach and enter into this Accord and Settlement Agreement and to
fully bind their respective principals without further consultation or approval
by any board, executive, director or otherwise.

     17. The parties further agree and stipulate that, in making this
settlement, they have not relied on statements or representations regarding
their respective rights, claims for damages, defenses or material facts by the
other party or their agents,

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attorneys, representatives or insurers. Each party has considered all of these
matters and has relied on its own judgment and that of its agents, as well as
the advice of its own attorneys.

     18. The parties agree and stipulate that reaching this Accord and its
satisfaction does not constitute an admission of liability on the part of
either, but rather that the payment represents a compromise settlement of a
disputed claim for the purpose of resolving the claims, completing the Projects
and avoiding additional cost and expenses of litigation.

     19. Upon receipt of the payment described above, the parties agree that
they will cooperate in executing and filing appropriate papers with the First
Judicial District Court to dismiss with prejudice any lawsuits arising out of
these Projects.

     20. The parties shall bear their own costs and attorneys' fees incurred in
connection with the Projects, including prosecution of the claims and defenses
and this mediated settlement.

     STIPULATED, AGREED TO AND APPROVED THIS 8TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2004.

MEADOW VALLEY CONTRACTORS, INC.

By: /s/ Sam Grasmick
    -----------------------------------------
    Sam Grasmick

By: /s/ Ken Nelson
    -----------------------------------------
    Ken Nelson

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NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

By: /s/ Robert Ortiz
    -----------------------------------------
    Robert Ortiz
    Acting Deputy Secretary

APPROVED:

By: /s/ John Randall Jeffries
    -----------------------------------------
    John Randall Jeffries
    Attorney for Plaintiff Meadow Valley

By: /s/ Kendall Fischer
    -----------------------------------------
    Kendall Fischer
    Deputy General Counsel
    Department of Transportation

By: /s/ Steven S. Scholl
    -----------------------------------------
    Steven S. Scholl
    Attorney for Department of Transportation

By: /s/ Ray Pederson
    -----------------------------------------
    Ray Pederson
    Federal Highway Administration
    for New Mexico Division Administrator
    J. Don Martinez

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