The Uinta County Commission unanimously approved a resolution that would allow ATV to use on some county roads at its regular meeting on Tuesday. Southwest Outdoor Trails (SWAT) asked for the resolution that would eventually lead to an ATV trails system that would establish a loop trail from Evanston to Fort Bridger and back.

SWAT president Mark Tesoro, publisher of the Uinta County Herald and the Kemmerer Gazette, said an ATV trail would breathe life into the Fort Bridger and Evanston economies. He further stated that this resolution would allow SWAT to now apply for grants, and pursue other public and private funding to pay for the project.

Commission chair Eric South expressed concern about possible conflicts with all-terrain vehicles and ranchers who used these same county roads to herd sheep during lambing season. Tesoro
said SWAT is already working with public and private interests on these concerns. He further stated that SWAT had already held two well attended meetings on the project in December.

Tesor said his organizations overall aim was to connect Uinta County communities with forest land and historic sites. The resolution also stated that ATV drivers using county roads would be
required to have valid driver’s licenses and insurance. Commissioner Mark Anderson asked about a timeline for the project. Tesoro said they could apply for its first grant around June 1st.

Tesoro said SWAT would eventually like to connect the Evanston and Fort Bridger ATV project to the Lincoln County communities of Kemmerer, Afton and Alpine.