Closing roads that are public

[deleted user]

My google-fu found that it’s been discussed plenty in county commission meetings. It shows the old man approached the county in the 1980s and had a handshake agreement with them to maintain the road - but there may not have been a formal easement. The states attorney says it is a public road and has ordered a survey. They were ordered to remove the signs in May, but it looks like she’s not backing down. The forest service is involved since they granted access easements to this road. Hard to say what’s going to happen.

 

[Bfishn]

Depending on how stubborn the person is and how much money they have, these are the kinds of fights that can end up tied up in the courts for years or even decades while keeping access closed the entire time.

Wealthy people don't necessarily need to win the court cases to block access, they can just continue legal battles indefinitely while keeping access closed.

 

[labhunter66]

I think more needs to be done to research and enforce prescriptive easements on some of these roads. I would certainly think a road that has been being used for 40 years would qualify.

 

[jdfisherman]

I think more needs to be done to research and enforce prescriptive easements on some of these roads. I would certainly think a road that has been being used for 40 years would qualify.

Especially if any public money has been spent on maintenance.

 

[Bacon]

We have a farmer in our unit that blocks off a section line with metal panels, probably 8 feet or so between the two to allow his cattle to cross between the pastures he owns on both sides. I kindly open the gates, drive through, and close them behind me. It's kind of a pain in the butt, but I'm also not going to throw a fit about it.

What fit. It’s completely legal. Section lines can be fenced, just needs to be a gate on each end.

 

[Shockwave]

What fit. It’s completely legal. Section lines can be fenced, just needs to be a gate on each end.

No fit, as I stated. But now I know it's legal. Thank you.