Commission approves UDOT cooperative agreement to relocate unsafe access at Yellow Circle Road

San Juan County commissioners voted May 5 to approve a cooperative agreement with the Utah Department of Transportation to move the highway access to the Mud Springs/Yellow Circle trailhead onto the Pat Creek cutoff road to improve safety.

Todd, representing the county road department, described the existing access as unsafe because of traffic increases from the new trail system and the difficulty of turning from the bottom of Blue Hill. Under the agreement UDOT will contract to bring and place gravel on the roughly 2.1-mile route and will provide $20,000 to San Juan County for materials the county must place in drainage. The county's estimated in-kind cost for rough grading and shaping is $47,000, which is not included in the road department's 2026 budget.

A UDOT representative, Jared, told commissioners the state intends to fund the bulk of construction (UDOT's participation described as approximately $305,000 for placement) and would cover additional costs if material prices rise, and emphasized the project's safety benefit. "That's just going to make it safer for everybody accessing this area," Jared said.

County staff and commissioners discussed whether the county would be reimbursed for its grading costs and asked UDOT for a letter stating the county agrees to relocating the access; UDOT said a letter stating the county agrees to relocate the access to the Pat Creek cutoff would satisfy its legal review and that the action may require a public hearing depending on how access is limited. The county attorney and staff agreed to coordinate next steps on the legal process.

Commissioner Harvey moved to approve the agreement; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote.