- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Tucumcari Today
By the People, for the People
Quay County Receives $1.5 Million Settlement Over Destroyed Bridge
The settlement resolves a 2.5-year-old lawsuit over a bridge on Old Route 66 that lacked contractor's insurance when flash flooding destroyed it.
Feb. 3, 2026 at 7:47pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Quay County, New Mexico will receive a total of $1.5 million in a settlement of its lawsuit over a bridge on Old Route 66 that was destroyed by flash flooding in 2023. The lawsuit involved the bridge's general contractor, architect, and insurance providers. Under the settlement, the architect will pay $1.125 million to the county, while the contractor and its bond insurer will jointly pay $375,000.
Why it matters
The destroyed bridge on Old Route 66 caused significant disruption for local residents and businesses, forcing them to take lengthy detours. The settlement will help the county fund the design of a new bridge, though additional millions will be required for construction, posing a financial challenge.
The details
The original $4 million bridge was just days from completion when it was destroyed by flash flooding in May 2023. The county later discovered that the general contractor, Vital Consulting Group, did not have the required builder's risk insurance for the project. This led Quay County to file a lawsuit against Vital, the architect Stantec Consulting Services, the county's insurer New Mexico County Insurance Authority, and United Fire and Casualty Co., the bond insurer on the project.
- The lawsuit was filed in 2023, about 2.5 years ago.
- The bridge was destroyed by flash flooding in May 2023.
The players
Quay County
The county in New Mexico that owned the bridge on Old Route 66 and filed the lawsuit.
Vital Consulting Group
The general contractor that built the bridge without the required builder's risk insurance.
Stantec Consulting Services
The architectural firm responsible for the bridge's design and contract with Vital Consulting Group.
New Mexico County Insurance Authority
The county's insurer that was required to reimburse the county for a portion of the legal fees and costs.
United Fire and Casualty Co.
The bond insurer on the bridge project that was required to jointly pay $375,000 to the county.
What they’re saying
“It is not as much as we hoped, but under all the circumstances, we are very pleased with the outcome.”
— Warren Frost, Quay County's lawyer
What’s next
The $1.5 million settlement will be used for design work on a new Bridge 1625, though the county manager estimates that additional millions of dollars will be required to construct the new bridge.
The takeaway
This case highlights the importance of proper insurance coverage for construction projects, as the lack of builder's risk insurance led to significant disruption and financial challenges for Quay County. The settlement provides some relief, but the county still faces an uphill battle to secure funding for a new bridge.
