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Steamboat Springs — After discussions that stretched throughout months and continued into the eleventh hour Tuesday, the Routt County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution calling for smaller, bicycle-friendly three-eighths-inch gravel to be used in future chip-and-seal treatments of all county roads.

The 3-0 vote came after a small group of rural Hayden residents asked for an exception to be made for Routt County Road 76, the Cog Road, and the continued use of larger three-quarter-inch gravel there.

“We prefer the larger aggregate on our road because of the prevention of accidents and the school buses that” travel that road, Robert Barnes said. “I don’t see a problem with the three-quarter-inch gravel.”

Aileen Hocken told the commissioners she is among a small group of local cyclists who ride the road on mountain bikes and prefer the larger gravel, particularly on Fredrickson Hill, which reaches an unusually steep 13 percent grade.

However, Commissioner Diane Mitsch Bush told the audience that research by the Road and Bridge Department showed that there is no clear evidence that the size of the gravel alone improves safety. It is just one factor in how good traction is on rural roads, Road and Bridge Director Paul Draper confirmed, along with air temperature, vehicle weight and the condition of vehicle tires, among others.

Commissioner Nancy Stahoviak noted that the board had taken lengthy public comment, as well as the recommendation of a citizen-led multimodal transportation committee, which comprises members of all parts of the county and different industries, into account before deciding to standardize the three-eighths-inch gravel chip.

To reach Tom Ross, call 970-871-4205 or email tross@SteamboatToday.com