Senate committee advances Pelton resolution after commissioners warn 70% of Morgan County state roads are failing

DENVER — The Senate Transportation and Energy Committee voted to advance a resolution sponsored by Senator Pelton urging state attention to deteriorating roads in Morgan County, concluding a hearing in which county officials and industry representatives said poor pavement is causing safety risks and harming the region’s agricultural economy.

Senator Pelton introduced Senate Resolution 26-001 and said the measure was prompted by a request from the Morgan County Board of Commissioners. "It is essential to the agriculture economy that we have a way to get our products to market," Pelton said, arguing that rural road maintenance is the district’s top infrastructure concern.

Morgan County Commissioner Tim Malone told the committee that a 2023 Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) assessment, summarized in a memorandum dated 09/05/2024, found about 70% of roughly 145 miles of state highway in Morgan County (excluding I-76) had “low drivability” and estimated remaining pavement life of three years or less. "If it is red, you have a 1 to 0 life expectancy left," Malone said, adding that areas shown in red on the CDOT map would now be considered at the end of their life.

Kelvin Bernhardt, a Morgan County commissioner with a 40-year background in emergency services, described multiple crashes and near-miss incidents tied to potholes and poor drainage. "A lot of the state highways in Morgan County are in the worst shape that I've ever seen them," Bernhardt said, urging support for the resolution to reduce injuries and fatalities.

Industry representatives also backed the resolution. Brock Herzberg, executive director of Colorado Dairy Farmers, said dairy and meat-processing traffic concentrates on Morgan County and that longer quad-axle vehicles — adopted in past legislation to reduce per-trip damage — have helped but not stopped overall deterioration. "We appreciate Senator Pelton bringing this forward," Herzberg told the committee.

Committee members pressed witnesses on whether the problem reflects the statewide funding formula or an insufficient total transportation budget. Senator Ball asked whether the allocation formula should give Morgan County a larger share or whether the statewide transportation budget should be increased. Pelton and the commissioners said both issues are relevant: they faulted statewide prioritization for not favoring rural roads and said local CDOT maintenance crews do what they can when funding is available.

The panel recorded its action after the amendment phase closed. Senator Pelton moved to send the resolution to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation; the committee took a roll-call vote and the measure passed 6–3.

The hearing included multiple references to prior legislation and funding levels; Pelton referred to an earlier Senate bill that she said allocated about $2,500,000 for rural road projects, which she and witnesses said was insufficient for Morgan County’s needs. Witnesses also noted that Morgan County ranks third in state agricultural production and hosts large processors such as Cargill Meat Solutions, Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), and Leprino Foods, contributing heavy truck traffic that accelerates pavement wear.

The committee did not amend the resolution. With the favorable recommendation recorded, the resolution moves to the full Senate for further consideration.