This event will mark the official start of construction for the OLLE Art Walk and will recognize project partners, supporters, and stakeholders of this important project. The OLLE Art Walk trail will run approximately 2.4 miles along Ninth Street NW and Old Lenoir Road to create a critical link between the City Walk, Riverwalk, and Aviation Walk segments of the Hickory Trail. Once a major thoroughfare into and out of the central business district of Hickory, Old Lenoir Road is now home to funky retail boutiques, a budding arts district, and a variety of businesses. This new section of trail is named after the OLLE Arts District, which derives its name from the first two letters of "Old" and "Lenoir" from the road name, Old Lenoir Road. The Hickory City Council approved a $22,714,090.80 construction contract with Neill Grading and Construction Company, Inc. for the OLLE Art Walk. The project is anticipated to take approximately 24 months to complete. A groundbreaking ceremony for the OLLE Art Walk will take place at 9 a.m. Thursday at 1079 Third Avenue Drive NW along Old Lenoir Road.