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Town and county officials say CDOT owns area under Carbondale bridge, complicating cleanup and services
Summary
Officials described persistent small encampments under a bridge near a river access point, said the land is Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) right‑of‑way and discussed options including slope modification, fencing and joint approaches to request permission for cleanup and management.
Carbondale and Garfield County officials discussed recurring encampments under a local bridge and the difficulty of cleanup and long‑term management because the land is in Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) right‑of‑way.
What officials reported: Public safety and public‑works staff described a small number of tents and periodic camping under the bridge for several months. Observations included propane tanks and an active grill, occasional young children present, accumulating garbage and human waste, and periodic trespass and fire concerns. Town staff said the location is attractive because it is sheltered and has easy pedestrian access.
Jurisdictional complication: County staff said the parcel is CDOT right‑of‑way, not within the town limits, and cleanup actions require CDOT permission. Local CDOT supervisors were initially receptive to cleanup assistance, staff said, but the conversation stalled as the issue moved up the agency chain. That has left town and county departments uncertain who may authorize interventions such as fencing, boulder barriers or slope regrading.
Options and risks discussed: Officials discussed potential measures including gated access for inspection needs, boulder placement, embankment regrading to remove flat bench areas attractive for camping, and temporary fencing. CDOT and local staff flagged concerns about ongoing maintenance responsibilities, access for bridge inspections and unintended consequences of access restrictions. Law enforcement noted that outreach and repeated enforcement often displace campers without resolving homelessness drivers.
Why it matters: The site is adjacent to popular recreational river access and the boat ramp; public complaints typically come from river users and neighbors. Officials said a joint approach — involving the town, county, CDOT, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the sheriff — could be used to propose engineered changes to the right‑of‑way and clarify who would maintain interventions.
Ending: Officials agreed to pursue coordinated outreach to CDOT management to explore permissible, safety‑focused modifications and to convene stakeholder partners before taking physical action.
