Residents, officials raise safety and road‑damage concerns as timber hauling is planned for Cottonwood Road

A Dolores County meeting on local road and forest management focused on planned timber hauling, residents’ safety complaints and county options to reduce damage to newly repaired roads.

County staff and a timber official said the Grand High timber sales will continue for several years and that the Mamariso sale is likely to proceed this year once Cottonwood Road and a washed‑out bridge on West Fork are repaired. The official warned that when Cottonwood is passable, hauling routes will shift and that some loads could begin using Cottonwood and West Fork rather than crossing Bradfield Bridge.

Residents told the meeting they have seen log trucks and other heavy equipment on West Fork Road, sometimes at speeds that make narrow curves hazardous for bicyclists. One resident said a pickup struck a bicycle on the stretch; participants said the bicycle was not severely injured but that a worse outcome was possible. Meeting participants also described a more serious recent incident in which a long log truck tipped over while hauling; attendees reported the driver’s license was expired and that crews tried to lift the truck before law enforcement arrived.

Officials discussed short‑term mitigation measures: continuing to close the Cottonwood gate during winter hauling, adding signage advising drivers to watch for cyclists and coordinating with timber operators about routing. The county also raised a longer‑term policy question about how to charge companies that use county roads. Staff outlined two fee approaches discussed at the meeting: a one‑time pavement‑use fee and a per‑load or per‑trip charge; participants said per‑load fees could be substantially more expensive for operators but would better align with damage risk.

County counsel advised the board to seek legal advice on permit tracking and fee authority; an executive session was scheduled in mid‑March to consider options for bonds, fees and enforcement. Until the county finalizes a policy, officials said they could ask companies to post bonds to cover road damage and to coordinate hauling timing to reduce conflicts with public recreation.

The county also noted upcoming road works relevant to hauling: Cottonwood Road repairs and a West Fork bridge replacement are prerequisites for heavy hauling from nearby sales, and Westport Road will undergo chip‑seal and crack‑sealing work later in the season. Officials said exact repair and hauling start dates were not specified and will be shared with residents when available.

The meeting adjourned after the board set follow‑up steps and confirmed the executive session date.