Aurora Homeowner's 20-Year Fence Battle With CDOT Finally Ends – But Who Really Won?

After two decades of frustration, an Aurora resident's fight with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) over a damaged fence has reached an unlikely resolution. This case exposes the bureaucratic red tape homeowners face when dealing with government agencies – and the shocking lengths some must go to get simple repairs approved.

The Backstory: A Collision That Started It All

In 2002, a CDOT snowplow slid off an icy road in Aurora, crashing through the homeowner's fence. What should have been a straightforward insurance claim turned into a 20-year saga of:

• Lost paperwork
• Misdirected communications
• Conflicting agency responses
• Repeated denials of responsibility

Why This Case Dragged On for Decades

The homeowner's persistence finally paid off when BNN's investigative team stepped in. Our investigation uncovered:

1. Multiple CDOT employees acknowledged the damage but claimed it wasn't their "jurisdiction"
2. Insurance claims were filed but allegedly "lost in the system"
3. Neighboring properties with similar damage received quicker resolutions

The Surprising Resolution

After BNN brought public attention to the case, CDOT:

• Issued a formal apology
• Cut a check for full fence replacement costs
• Implemented new tracking for similar claims

"This should have been resolved in 2002," the homeowner told BNN. "I'm relieved but angry it took media involvement to get action."

What This Means for Colorado Homeowners

This case reveals critical lessons for property owners near state-maintained roads:

• Document everything – keep copies of all communications
• Be persistent – don't accept indefinite delays
• Know your rights – Colorado law requires timely damage claims processing

What Do You Think?

• Should there be financial penalties when government agencies drag out valid claims?
• Is 20 years an unreasonable wait, or just "government moving at normal speed"?
• Would this homeowner have ever gotten paid without media pressure?
• Are CDOT's changes just PR spin, or will they actually help others?
• Should homeowners near state roads get reduced property taxes for this risk?