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Judge’s ruling on road title, federal grant revive plans to improve Hole‑in‑the‑Rock/Homero Rock Road
Summary
Commissioners said a recent court ruling clarified title to Hole‑in‑the‑Rock Road and House Rock Valley Road and that a previously awarded grant for road improvements is available; priorities include replacing culverts with bridges and restoring road crown and drainage.
Garfield County commissioners and public works staff reported that a recent court decision cleared the way to press forward on long-delayed road improvements for Hole‑in‑the‑Rock/Homero Rock Road and related stretches.
Commissioners said a judge’s ruling gives county or Kane County title to segments of the road previously claimed by the Bureau of Land Management. Officials described the decision as important precedent for other counties asserting rights under RS 2477 claims. County public works said a joint-highway grant that had been reserved for the project remains available but that inflation has reduced its purchasing power.
Public works said the immediate priority is to replace two vulnerable culvert structures with bridges so the road will be less likely to wash out. Secondary work would restore the road crown, improve drainage and then consider surfacing treatments. Staff described a volume of traffic — including rental vehicles and passenger cars — that makes safety improvements pressing.
The public works director noted the presence of gravel that could be crushed for the work but warned that crushing costs are substantial: the crusher was cited at about $50,000 per month. Staff said the county will prioritize the first 17–20 miles that lie inside Garfield County before coordinating with Kane County on downstream sections.
Why it matters: The road services tourists and local traffic; structural improvements (bridges and drainage restoration) are intended to reduce frequent washouts and safety risks and to make maintenance more sustainable.
What’s next: Staff will move forward with grant administration and preliminary design to identify costs for replacing the two structures, and will coordinate with the county attorney and neighboring jurisdictions on next steps; no final construction contract was approved at the meeting.
