ABB Electrification

Wright Construction’s Memphis Division completed a two-month box culvert installation project for ABB Electrification at its manufacturing facility in Senatobia, Mississippi. The scope included installing 370 linear feet of 6-foot by 3-foot precast box culvert, excavating approximately 380 feet by 10 feet, placing 180 cubic yards of concrete, installing #4 rebar at 6 inches on center, and backfilling over the completed culvert. Through precise excavation, reinforcement, and concrete placement, the Memphis team delivered a durable solution built to handle long-term structural demands.

About ABB Electrification in Senatobia

ABB is a global electrification and automation technology company headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, with U.S. operations spanning more than 100 years. The company’s Senatobia facility manufactures low-voltage circuit breakers and enclosed control products, including the ABB Tmax XT molded case circuit breaker and the Emax 2 air circuit breaker, both previously produced overseas before manufacturing moved to Mississippi. These products support critical infrastructure across data centers, renewable energy, manufacturing, food processing, and water and wastewater facilities.

ABB has continued to expand its footprint in Senatobia since the plant opened in 2016, including a recent $40 million investment adding 200,000 square feet of manufacturing space and 122 new jobs to meet growing demand for advanced electrification technology. Site development and infrastructure work, including drainage and culvert installation, supports this kind of ongoing facility growth by managing stormwater flow across an expanding industrial footprint.

What Is a Box Culvert and Why It Matters

A box culvert is a rectangular concrete structure installed underground to channel water beneath roads, parking areas, or building sites. Unlike a pipe culvert, a box culvert’s flat top and bottom design allows it to carry heavy loads while maintaining a larger water flow capacity, making it well suited for industrial sites where heavy trucks, equipment, and building structures sit above the drainage path.

For a manufacturing facility the size of ABB’s Senatobia plant, proper stormwater management protects the building foundation, parking areas, and access roads from flooding and erosion. Without adequate drainage infrastructure, water can pool near building entrances, undermine pavement and foundations over time, and create safety hazards for employees and delivery traffic. A properly engineered box culvert moves water efficiently away from developed areas and reduces the risk of costly water damage or facility downtime.

Project Execution

The Memphis team began with excavation across a 380-foot by 10-foot path to prepare the culvert bed. Crews then installed #4 rebar at 6-inch spacing to reinforce the structure before placing 180 cubic yards of concrete. Once the 370 linear feet of precast box culvert sections were set and secured, the team backfilled over the completed structure to restore the surrounding grade. Each phase of the project, from excavation through backfill, required careful sequencing to keep the site safe and on schedule over the two-month timeline.

Impact on the Business and Community

Reliable drainage infrastructure keeps manufacturing operations running without interruption from water intrusion or site flooding. For ABB, this culvert installation supports the long-term stability of a facility that manufactures electrical components used in data centers, renewable energy systems, and municipal water infrastructure across the country. For the Senatobia community, continued investment in ABB’s local footprint sustains hundreds of manufacturing jobs and reinforces Tate County’s growing industrial base.

Wright Construction’s Memphis Division brings excavation, concrete, and underground utility expertise to industrial and commercial clients throughout the Mid-South. Projects like this one demonstrate the team’s ability to manage complex site work with the precision that manufacturing clients require.

Team Recognition

Wright Construction thanks the Memphis crew for their work managing the excavation, reinforcement, and concrete placement on this project from start to finish, delivering a structure built to perform for decades to come.

Need box culvert installation, excavation, or concrete work in Memphis, Senatobia, Oxford, or the surrounding areas? Wright Construction is ready. Let’s get to work.