Pictured above: County Road #304
By Julie Johansen
Nearly all county roads arose in one of these three ways: They were built on property purchased or condemned for that purpose; they were dedicated as part of a development approval; or they were created by consistent public use over at least a 10-year period.
Wayde Nielsen, Emery County Road Supervisor, approached Emery County Commissioners on Tuesday requesting the abandonment of two county roads: Road #304 and Road #201. After some discussion, it was decided that Road #201 would be abandoned as it has a private gate closed about .25 miles off of Highway 155. Road #304 was changed from a class B road to a class D road. This road goes from the Coal Yard at Huntington Plant to Deer Creek Mine.
Public roads in Utah are classified as A,B,C or D roads. State roads are class A and city or town roads are class C. The roads counties typically deal with are class B and D. Class B roads are routes regularly maintained by counties. Class D roads are routes established by usage and not regularly maintained by counties. County road #304 will not be maintained by Emery County, but will remain a road so that adjoining property owners and grazers in the area can still find access. However, it will temporarily be closed during the reclamation of the mine.