Muddy road in El Paso County raises concerns, but officials say historic designation limits maintenance options

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- Most people who live along remote rural roads don't expect city conveniences, but at least one resident doesn't want a road so muddy that her cars get stuck and can delay emergency responses.

The road at issue is Whittemore Road, south of Truckton Road, just east of the Lincoln County line -- a road that KRDO 13's The Road Warrior previously reported on in January 2025.

Although dry weather for the past year has produced less mud on the road, it turns into a quagmire in spots after any significant rain or snow.

Tresia Easom has lived along Whittemore Road for 11 years and said she became stuck on several occasions and experienced long delays for ambulances responding to help sick family members.

However, county officials explained that Whittemore is designated a historic road -- meaning it has a long history of public use and previously received some level of maintenance, but was never built or formally accepted for current standards.

As a result, the county can perform only limited maintenance when necessary to keep the road passable.

Furthermore, the county said that any maintenance depends on road conditions and available resources.

The only solution remains for drivers to wait days -- or even weeks in extreme conditions -- for the mud to dry.