Contrary to some claims being made, officials have said that the Wells Draw Road Improvement project is not about turning the road into a “hydrocarbon highway”. The Duchesne County Commission approved a letter to the Bureau of Land Management in response to the Wells Draw Road Amendment: Gate Canyon. Phase 1 of the Wells Draw Road Improvement project was constructed in 2010 and covered 4.7 miles. Phase 2 took place in 2011 extending improvements another 7.5 miles south. Phase 3 added another 10.8 miles in 2012 and the fourth and final phase would continue paving the rest of the gravel section of the road which runs from Myton to Highway 6 in Carbon County. Duchesne County Commission explained that the improvements are important to increase safety as this road is heavily used by travelers accessing recreation activities. Regardless of the improvements, there is no intention for Wells Draw Road to become a primary transportation corridor though it could serve as an emergency route if US191 on Indian Canyon had a forced closure. The Commissioners approved the letter to the BLM during a February Commission meeting.
