It is safe to predict that the debate will continue into the future. It s a fact that many users of national forest lands have a favorite place in the woods that is accessed by an equally favorite road they feel should be forever open and maintained. Additionally, there are many strongly held views on how existing roads should or should not be managed. The George Washington and Jefferson National Forests have shared in some of the roads issue debates. It is important to recognize the value of the road system for recreational and administrative use.
Some forest roads are the only access to private lands, including lands with year-round residences.
People need and want access to their public lands for recreational purposes while resource managers need access for management activities that provide multiple benefits to the public. Access for fire management is a must. The GW-Jeff staff manages approximately 3,000 miles of forest development roads. The budget includes funding for construction, reconstruction, and maintenance. Annually, an average of 19.7 miles of roads are decommissioned and either water-barred or gated and the roadbed reseeded with appropriate vegetation.