Historic Roadways Protection Act

The Historic Roadways Protection Act would prevent the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from implementing travel management plans that close historical roads on public lands in Utah. The bill specifically blocks the BLM from finalizing or implementing new travel management plans in certain Utah areas, and from implementing four specific travel management plans (Indian Creek, San Rafael Desert, San Rafael Swell, and Labyrinth/Gemini Bridges), until federal courts decide cases brought by Utah and 22 counties regarding their rights to maintain these roads.

These disputes stem from an 1866 mining law provision that granted states and counties rights to build roads across public lands to promote westward settlement. Although Congress repealed this provision in 1976, it preserved existing road rights. When the BLM closed some historical roads through travel management plans, Utah and counties sued to keep them open. If enacted, this bill would pause BLM road closures in these areas while those lawsuits proceed through the courts.

Currently, the bill has been introduced in the House and referred to committee. It has not yet been voted on by the full chamber.