Last Updated on 10/30/2026
The Tug Hill Commission has released its newest issue paper, Road Abandonment, available for download here. The paper provides a detailed overview of road abandonment, qualified or total, which is a tool towns can use in specific situations to reduce the highway mileage under their jurisdiction. The process can be very complicated and is deeply rooted in case law. Geared toward the layperson but with numerous legal references, it relies heavily on legal memorandums between The Ayers Law Firm and the Tug Hill Commission. It does note, however, that no commission staff are attorneys, and municipalities should confer with legal counsel on specific road issues in their town or village.
After a review of how roads are established in New York and the importance of establishing what method created any road being considered for abandonment, details are provided about both the process and effect of both types of abandonment. Please contact the office or your circuit rider if you would like a hard copy of the paper mailed to you, or with any questions.