Commissioners legalize portion of Caves Camp Road to allow bridge replacement

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners on June 24 approved Order No. 2026-038 to legalize a portion of Caves Camp Road, clearing a statutory hurdle for a planned bridge-deck replacement over the West Fork of Williams Creek. The three commissioners voted unanimously, 3-0, to authorize the legalization after County Engineer Neil Burgess presented the survey and historic records showing continuous public use and historical recognition of the realigned roadway.

Burgess told the Board the roadway was originally established in 1891 and that a realignment approved by the Board in 1939 had never been formally legalized despite approximately 86 years of continuous public use and inclusion in county records and adjoining owners' expectations. He said the legalization would not require additional right-of-way, would not result in compensation to property owners, and would satisfy statutory requirements allowing the federally funded bridge-replacement project to proceed. Commissioner Colene M. Martin moved to approve the order; Commissioners Gary L. Richardson and Ron A. Smith joined the roll-call vote and the motion carried 3-0.

A member of the public, Judy Aherns, asked whether legalization would impose additional costs on the county. Burgess replied that legalization itself would not create costs beyond the existing federal bridge project and would not constitute a taking of private property. The Board accepted ODOT's survey and the historical documentation included in Exhibit 1 and closed the public hearing at 9:08 a.m.