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Data Center
Rayville, LA
Mainstay Engineering Group's South Carolina office provided temporary bridge design and structural engineering services for eight bridges supporting the construction of a major data center campus in Rayville, Louisiana. Spanning more than 2,250 acres, the development is expected to be completed by 2030 and represents one of the region's largest infrastructure investments, with projected construction costs between $10 billion and $25 billion.
To support ongoing construction activities, Mainstay designed four vehicle bridges and four pedestrian bridges that provide critical access across the expansive site. Located within Louisiana's marsh wetlands, the project required innovative bridge engineering solutions to overcome challenging terrain and accommodate heavy construction equipment. Bridge spans ranged from 90 to 180 feet, including a 254-foot vehicle bridge designed to support a 156,000-pound earth mover hauler and other oversized construction vehicles.
The project scope included the design of helical pile foundations, reinforced concrete pile caps, structural steel framing, and specialty connections for each bridge. Designed in accordance with AASHTO bridge design standards and project-specific loading requirements, the modular bridge systems were optimized for fabrication, transportation, and field erection. Mainstay also developed connection designs, fabrication support documents, erection drawings, and crane lift evaluations, including custom lifting lugs and spreader beams to facilitate safe bridge installation.
Throughout the project, the team navigated evolving site conditions, accelerated schedules, changing vehicle loading requirements, and complex crane pick constraints. By standardizing structural details and connection concepts across multiple bridge configurations, Mainstay delivered a cost-effective and constructible solution that streamlined fabrication and installation while supporting one of the nation's largest data center construction projects.
