Beyond the Box: Custom Precast Structures Tackle Stormwater Challenges in Florida
Managing stormwater along Bradenton, Florida's 75th Street West corridor required more than conventional drainage structures. With limited right-of-way, existing underground utilities and concerns about flooding, erosion and water quality, the project called for a compact system capable of controlling and treating stormwater. Atlantic TNG manufactured four custom 12-foot-by-12-foot precast Smart Box structures featuring engineered internal baffles that direct water through extended flow paths. The structures are designed to reduce water velocity, capture sediment and debris, and improve stormwater management without requiring a larger underground footprint.
Fast Facts
- Project Name:
- 75th Street West Improvements
- Location:
- Bradenton, Florida
- Precast Products Used:
- Stormwater Management, Underground
- Precast Producer:
- Atlantic TNG
- Completion Date:
- Aug. 10, 2028 (scheduled)
The Challenge
The 75th Street West corridor in Bradenton required a stormwater management system capable of handling large volumes of runoff while addressing downstream flooding, erosion and water quality concerns.
The project site presented several constraints. Limited right-of-way, existing underground utilities and roadway conditions restricted the space available for new infrastructure. The system needed to provide effective hydraulic performance without requiring extensive additional excavation or creating unnecessary disruption to surrounding traffic and community activities.
The project team also needed a durable, low-maintenance solution that could accommodate site-specific inlet and outlet configurations while supporting the corridor’s long-term resilience during storm events.
Precast Solution
Atlantic TNG manufactured four custom 12-foot-by-12-foot precast concrete Smart Box structures, designated S-101, S-111, S-111A and S-152.
Rather than simply conveying stormwater from an inlet to an outlet, the structures incorporate engineered internal serpentine baffle walls that create longer flow paths. This configuration is designed to slow water velocity, dissipate hydraulic energy and encourage sediment settlement while helping capture floating debris.
Each structure was customized for its specific hydraulic requirements:
- S-101: Internal baffles, engineered weir elevations and a flow-control orifice system.
- S-111: A serpentine flow path, multiple large-diameter pipe connections and provisions for high-volume stormwater management.
- S-111A: An adapted hydraulic treatment design with complex inlet and outlet configurations.
- S-152: Additional flow-control features designed to improve hydraulic efficiency.
The precast system integrates stormwater treatment and flow regulation into underground structures designed to fit within the corridor’s limited available space.
- 4 Custom precast Smart Box structures
- 12 feet by 12 feet Dimensions of each structure
- $35 million Approximate reported total project cost
Why Precast?
Precast concrete provided the design flexibility needed to incorporate specialized stormwater treatment features into structures that could fit within the project’s constrained underground footprint.
Manufacturing the Smart Boxes off-site allowed Atlantic TNG to integrate internal baffles, weirs, flow-control features and complex pipe connections into customized units. Each structure could be configured to meet specific hydraulic requirements rather than relying on a standard drainage design.
Off-site production also reduced the amount of construction work required within the roadway corridor. Compared with conventional on-site construction, the precast approach was selected to help accelerate installation and limit traffic and community disruption.
The strength and durability of precast concrete also made it suitable for underground stormwater infrastructure designed for long-term service with limited maintenance.
Results
Atlantic TNG manufactured four custom precast Smart Box structures for the 75th Street West Improvements project, incorporating hydraulic treatment and flow-control features tailored to the corridor’s requirements.
The structures are designed to improve stormwater management by slowing water movement, promoting sediment settlement and capturing debris before discharge. Their internal configurations are also intended to reduce downstream erosion and help manage flooding during storm events.
By integrating these functions into compact precast structures, the project provides an approach to stormwater treatment where underground space is limited.
- Written by:
- National Precast Concrete Association
- Source:
- 75th Street West Improvements, Built for Purpose Awards submission
- Published:
- October 26, 2026
- Last Update:
- Oct. 26, 2026
