City of Hickory to get $1.3M settlement over collapsed arches

HICKORY, N.C. — A $1.3 million settlement has been reached after a set of arches collapsed on the Hickory City Walk back in February 2022.

The 40-ton arches came crashing down overnight onto the Main Avenue bridge. They were the centerpiece of the Hickory City Walk project through downtown Hickory.

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There were concerns about the arches prior to their collapse. City leaders said when workers tried to raise the second arch in 2021, they heard popping noises and saw the wood splinter.

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The discovery caused construction delays, and the City of Hickory confirmed to Channel 9′s Dave Faherty that the arch was repaired using adhesive, clamps, and self-taping screws.

The arches were put in place in late 2021 and were constructed over a portion of the Hickory City Walk that had opened two months earlier. They were built to withstand 100 mph winds, but they came down when the winds gusted to only 35 mph.

“When the wind was blowing, you could actually see them move,” said resident Bernie Armer.

The City of Hickory said through mediation, they’ve reached $1.325 million a settlement agreement. It’s an end to 18 months of litigation in which the city had sought damages against four companies involved in the design and construction of the arches.

Western Wood, which repaired and inspected the arches, along their chief engineer will pay a majority of the settlement in excess of $1 million.

Faherty spoke with Mayor Hank Guess Wednesday morning at a groundbreaking event, where the city is building another walkway through the Ridgeview community.

“They has passed all the inspections, and all the experts and all the people that were trained and hired -- the professionals -- checked off on it,” Mayor Hank Guess said. “As citizens and as elected officials, that’s about the best that we can do.”

He believes those assurances led to Hickory being awarded the $1.3 million now.

“That is exactly why we got the settlement,” Guess said.

Faherty also asked the mayor if there are any plans to build something else on the walkway. He said not right now, but that could change going forward.

Megan Hamby works as a dog trainer nearby and will never forget seeing the damage.

“I was blown away that that even happened and grateful nobody got hurt,” she said.

Several people told Faherty Wednesday they hope something else safer is put in place of the arches.

“Something should be more functional there than decorative,” Constance Quinn said.

(PREVIOUS: Repairs begin on bridge, guardrails months after Hickory arches collapse)

Repairs begin on bridge, guardrails months after Hickory arches collapse

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