OHV Pilot Program Receives Approval Through September

After some confusion and speculation that the Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Pilot Program would be tabled at the State level by the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), WORLD has received word that as of Friday, May 31, the program is a go within the town of Lake City.
County representatives said that on Friday, May 31, the signed and approved Pilot Program application was returned to Hinsdale County offices, and that the signage to be installed around town had also been received.
Once the signs were inspected by CDOT inspector Justin Mangum, the program was officially approved and will run through September of this year. The program has not been approved for a second season at this time, and all signage must be removed by September 30, 2019.
According to Hinsdale County Sheriff Justin Casey, OHVs are not allowed to use the sides of the roads, but are allowed at this time on all town and county roads, and are allowed to cross State Highway 149. The approved route on 149 is from the Second Street intersection (MP 72.11) in Lake City south to the County Road 30 intersection (MP 71.44). The total distance is 2.26 miles. No other state highways will be included in the project.
“If we see OHVs on Highway 149 on pavement, we will pull them over,” Casey said. “If cited, it will result in a court summons. At this time, we are treating these citations like any other traffic enforcement and taking appropriate action, depending on each individual situation.” Casey said that there have been multiple pull-overs since the beginning of the Pilot Program and OHV season.
On June 1, it was reported that the sign on Highway 149 in front of Chillin’ Internet Cafe had been defaced. The sign reads “OHVs on Highway,” and had been vandalized with the word “no.” Casey says that Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Kambish is investigating the vandalism.