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Residents press Fremont County to fix deteriorating Oak Creek Grade; commissioners say roads are a priority
Summary
Two residents described severe deterioration on County Road 143/277 (Oak Creek Grade), calling current maintenance practices unsafe. Commissioners acknowledged the concerns, said several county roads face similar pressures, and noted work is ongoing on washed-out County Road 12 and other trouble spots.
FREMONT COUNTY, Colo. — County residents told Fremont County commissioners on Aug. 12 that long-running maintenance problems on Oak Creek Grade (County Road 143/277) have worsened and pose safety risks.
David Miller, who said he has lived on Chinook Drive near Oak Creek Grade since 1998, described the road as "the worst shape it has been in in 27 years," faulting a county spray treatment program and what he called insufficient materials and maintenance. "When the road gets wet, it turns into slimy mud that even 4-wheel drives can have a hard time negotiating," Miller said, describing frequent washouts, potholes and exposed bedrock sticking up two to three inches above the driving surface.
Miller said recent grader work left driving lanes with rocks and ruts that worsened conditions within days and that culverts and ditches had not been cleaned before heavy rains, which allowed washouts to recur.
Terry Davis, another resident, said the route has become a common connector from Westcliffe to Canon City and urged county staff and commissioners to drive the road. "It is a scenic road. It's a beautiful drive. If you've never been up there, please take it," Davis said, offering to show county staff the problems.
Commissioners responded that road maintenance is a continuing county priority. They noted County Road 12 has been under single-lane closure for months after major rain-related undercutting and that the county recently secured a contractor for an expensive stabilization project. County staff said similar maintenance and surface issues exist on multiple county roads, including Tallahassee and parts of Oak Creek Grade, and that crews are addressing problems as resources and contractors permit.
No formal vote or new policy was taken at the meeting on the Oak Creek Grade comments. Commissioners encouraged residents to continue raising concerns, said the county maintains an open-door policy, and stated they would coordinate further investigations and maintenance scheduling.
Public comment details: - Miller described repeated washouts and insufficient road base materials; he provided photos to the county showing rock, potholes and exposed bedrock. - Miller said the county's spray treatment appeared to reduce regular grading and that the method had produced slimy surfaces when wet. - County staff acknowledged the difficulty in obtaining contractors for large repairs and said the county had recently contracted work for County Road 12 stabilization.
The commissioners did not give a specific timetable for complete repairs to Oak Creek Grade but said they were aware of the problem and would pursue contractor solutions and additional maintenance where feasible.
