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County discusses abandoning a road and bridge through RedGold property; no final decision
Summary
Adams County staff reported ongoing discussions with RedGold about abandoning a segment of County Road 11 South and an adjacent bridge that sits within RedGold’s campus; staff said abandonment could transfer responsibility to property owners but requires legal review and coordination with other affected owners.
County highway staff told commissioners they have discussed options with RedGold to abandon a portion of County Road 11 South (also referred to locally as Geneva Road) and the bridge that splits the RedGold campus. Staff said the bridge is undersized for its watershed and likely to appear on the county’s replacement list within the next 10 years, with an estimated high replacement cost that staff said could reach into the low millions.
Staff reported meetings with RedGold ownership and county attorneys to identify affected property owners and said RedGold initially showed interest because abandonment would improve site access control for the company. However, RedGold has not committed; the company is engaged in major renovation work and has asked to delay detailed discussion until later in its construction season.
Staff outlined a potential abandonment approach: establish a pickup point (a turnaround or cul‑de‑sac) where county maintenance would stop, record an abandonment so the bridge and road segment would transfer to adjacent property owners, and negotiate any necessary reciprocal easements to preserve access for properties that would otherwise lose public access. Staff emphasized that any formal abandonment would require legal review, notification of other owners (including a trustee for a land trust), and possibly a public hearing.
Why it matters: staff said the bridge is an isolated liability with maintenance costs and limited public benefit; abandoning it could avoid a multimillion‑dollar replacement but would change public access and maintenance responsibilities for property owners.
Details and constraints: staff said floodplain and lack of surrounding development limit future utility of the roadway. Commissioners asked whether abandonment automatically closes the road (staff said abandonment would likely transfer ownership to adjacent landowners and that access interests would be negotiated). Staff also noted that lane‑mile funding formulas can influence county budget allocations, so each abandonment must be assessed case‑by‑case.
Next steps: staff will continue discussions with RedGold and other property owners, coordinate with the county attorney, and return with a recommendation after additional outreach and legal work. No vote or final action was taken at the meeting.
