Weld County Roads Shrink As Population Surges 12%

Weld County's maintained road mileage dropped nearly 10 miles in 2025 even as the region's population grew more than 12% since 2020, underscoring the collision between rapid growth, annexations, and the county's reliance on state Highway Users Tax Fund support.

The county now maintains 2,858.40 miles of roads, per the 2025 Highway Users Tax Fund Annual Mileage and Certification Report. That mileage will shape the county's HUTF allocation for 2026.

Of those miles, 2,079.72 are gravel and 778.68 are paved—a predominantly unpaved network.

The loss reflects continued growth and 11 municipal annexations in 2025, including Greeley's annexation of the 35th Avenue and O Street roundabout, which the county had built in 2022. "A decrease in the total number of miles the county maintains is somewhat expected with more people moving to the county and continued annexation," according to Weld County.

An estimated 369,745 people now call Weld County home—a 12% increase since 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Since 1953, the HUTF has funded roads statewide using motor fuel taxes, registration fees, and vehicle charges, then distributing to CDOT, state agencies, counties, and municipalities via statutory formulas. CDOT expects $665 million in statewide distributions for fiscal year 2025–26, with $256 million split among Colorado's 64 counties.

Weld County received $12.8 million in 2025—the third-largest allocation in the state behind Jefferson and El Paso counties.

As cities annex county roads, the county's certified mileage determines its HUTF share. That could eventually shrink Weld's funding even as population pressures strain the roads it still maintains.