Caddo Parish aims to hold data center developer liable for road damage

Caddo Parish officials in Louisiana are implementing proactive measures to ensure data center developers are held financially responsible for road damage incurred during construction. Tim Weaver, public works director, stated that due to the massive scale and rural location of the Stateline Data Center project west of Blanchard, it will be easier to attribute road damage compared to sites shared by multiple commercial entities. The project, a $12 billion partnership between STACK Infrastructure and Amazon, involves the construction of two campuses, one in Caddo Parish and another in Bossier Parish. The development will require large commercial trucks to haul heavy equipment and materials for five to seven years, as the buildings are constructed in phases. The parish has digitally documented current road conditions to monitor future damage, which will be governed by an existing ordinance outlining what constitutes abusive road use. Weaver confirmed that if damage occurs, the developer will receive a bill. Discussions are ongoing regarding the primary route the developer will use for construction traffic, with five options available. Weaver hopes the developer will select a single route to simplify monitoring and minimize widespread damage. While most major parish roads can withstand heavy traffic, non-major roads are more vulnerable. The parish's public works department also has a commercial vehicle enforcement officer and generates approximately $400,000 annually from permits for overweight and oversized loads, with departmental functions primarily funded by property and sales taxes.