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Residents, operator and commissioners spar over truck traffic and road damage on Granite Road
Summary
Residents told commissioners that heavy commercial hauling has left a 100-yard stretch of Granite Road nearly impassable and urged a written road-use and safety plan; the operator offered mirrors, cameras and driver changes while commissioners agreed to inspect the road and seek a formal plan.
An extended public exchange at the Granite County commission meeting on July 7 focused on safety and damage on Granite Road, where residents said commercial hauling tied to a local mining operation has degraded a stretch of county road and poses safety risks.
Andrew Engel, who said he wrote to the commission, thanked commissioners for the quick hearing and said residents ‘‘feel seen and heard’’ but described a dangerous situation where a section of the road had become nearly impassable. ‘‘There just needs to be some kind of safety plan for how this level of commercial hauling can occur safely on that road given the nature of that road,’’ Engel said.
The mining operator, Gary Martin, spoke at the meeting and said he had changed drivers, installed cameras on trucks, and was prepared to donate corner mirrors and provide handheld radios to improve safety. ‘‘We did switch our driver out… we have cameras on the mobile trucks… I’m happy to donate mirrors to the cause,’’ he said, adding that his company wanted to be part of a workable solution.
Residents asked who would pay for repairs and how often commercial users would be required to restore the road. Commissioners acknowledged the tension between a non‑maintained county road and new commercial activity and said they would inspect the road, request a written road‑use plan from the operator, and consider targeted grading and maintenance where feasible. County staff said limited grader availability and recent heavy rains constrain immediate repairs but that the county would prioritize addressing the worst stretch as staffing allows.
Why it matters: Granite Road is a county-owned but largely unimproved route used by recreational traffic and local residents. Heavy commercial truck traffic can cause rapid deterioration; residents say the damage is recent and localized to the operator’s driveway and haul corridor. The dispute raises questions about enforcement, liability, and whether commercial users must commit to routine repairs or pay into a road-impact fund.
What’s next: Commissioners agreed to visit the site, request a written operational and safety plan from the operator, and perform targeted grading when available. The operator said he would help supply mirrors and other mitigations; MSHA has previously been notified and made an inspection visit, county officials said.
Quote: ‘‘We feel seen and heard by the commission… but there are some serious issues…this is a public safety issue,’’ resident Andrew Engel said. Operator Gary Martin said his firm ‘‘will do whatever the county recommends or asks, whatever we can do.’’
