CENTRAL CITY — From where a mailbox can go to how residents should be able to escape a subdivision during a wildfire, Gilpin County commissioners spent much of Tuesday morning talking about roads.

During the July 21, 2026, work session, the Board of County Commissioners reviewed a draft Roadway Design and Construction Manual, a document that has been in the works for about a year and is intended to bring the County's road standards into one place. 

Because it was a work session, no decisions were made, but commissioners offered feedback and asked staff to make several revisions before bringing the document back next month.

Public Works Director John Combs and Right-of-Way Specialist Andrew Decker walked the board through the nearly 70-page draft, explaining that it covers everything from driveway permits and utility work to road closures, grading permits, and the difference between public and private roads. 

The goal is to give residents, developers, and contractors a clearer understanding of the County's expectations while also defining where Public Works' responsibilities end and Community Development's begin.

Emergency access

Emergency access for new developments took up a considerable portion of the discussion. The draft follows the 2024 International Fire Code by requiring developments with more than 30 homes to provide at least two approved fire access routes. 

Commissioners wondered whether Gilpin County should consider stricter standards and said they'd like input from Timberline Fire Protection District before settling on the final language.

Road closures

Commissioners said they want rules that protect public safety without creating unnecessary red tape for small neighborhood events, such as children's Halloween parades or community gatherings. 

County Attorney Todd Messenger, who attended virtually, suggested treating construction-related road closures differently from temporary community events because the risks and planning needs are not the same. Staff agreed to revisit that section of the manual.

Other revisions

Commissioners asked for other revisions, including clearer wording about prescriptive easements on County-maintained roads, additional references to Colorado State University Extension for erosion control and weed management, and changes to application timelines for road closures/construction projects.

The discussion wasn't limited to policy. Combs said Public Works has been encouraged by the performance of recycled asphalt millings used on portions of Upper Apex Road and expects to have more material available from current paving projects. The material creates a longer-lasting surface and reduces dust, although it costs more than traditional road base.

County road inventory

Commissioners also reviewed an updated inventory of county roads, which will eventually be paired with the new manual. The inventory classifies county roads and documents the system the County maintains, giving officials a more complete record than the one they've relied on in the past.

Uneven stretch of Highway 119

Toward the end of the meeting, commissioners brought up the rough stretch of Colorado Highway 119 between Black Hawk and the Gilpin County School. (The pavement is uneven enough to make drivers wonder if they're still on asphalt or accidentally hit a carnival ride.)

Combs said he is not aware of any plans by the Colorado Department of Transportation to repave that section, despite many residents expecting it would be resurfaced after utility work was completed. The staff said they would provide commissioners with a CDOT contact so they can direct residents to the agency.

County staff will revise the draft based on the board's comments and bring it back for another work session on August 11. 

The commissioners also expressed support for holding a public hearing on August 25 to give residents a chance to weigh in before the County considers adopting the new roadway standards at a future meeting.