NUECES COUNTY, Texas — A portion of County Road 44 on the outskirts of Nueces County is now closed to the public.
It comes after Wyatt Ranches, the landowner on both sides of the road, requested that the county abandon the 2.5-mile stretch.
Wyatt Ranches submitted a petition in September to close that portion of CR 44, which intersects with Farm to Market Road 70.
After county officials met with the ranch, they agreed that it was the best option.
"What was a good thing to do, because of the criminal activity I believe that had been going on and the repairs and the damages and stuff done on the road, dumping, everything," Nueces County Judge Connie Scott said.
Scott said that Wyatt Ranches will now be responsible for the 2.5-mile stretch of the road.
"We knew it would be well cared for and what they brought us about having to continually police it—it's a danger to them and their workers out there as well," Scott said.
Scott explained that public notices were posted throughout the process to close the portion of CR 44. The Nueces County Commissioners Court voted on it earlier this month, and it was approved unanimously.
"It required a unanimous vote of those present in the courtroom to pass and there was no opposition in public comment, there was no one in the courthouse," Scott said.
After the vote, Scott said that people called explaining they saw the notice but did not contact anyone to discuss the road closure. While the public cannot drive through there anymore, Scott said that drivers still have options.
"There's other ways to go. It's maybe not the direct shortcut that they used to take," Scott said. "It's good for some, and maybe not so good for the others, but hopefully the Wyatt Ranch won't have the problems they had to continue."