In a fair number of cases they are, or similar road structures will be considered "private roads" and the residents along that road will provide a mutual easeme

In a fair number of cases they are, or similar road structures will be considered "private roads" and the residents along that road will provide a mutual easement and pay for maintenance, plowing etc. I grew up in a rural area that connected through some trails and dumped out into a private cul-de-sac road that was exactly as described -- it was also very poorly maintained. In my current very suburban neighborhood there's dozens of cut outs "eyebrows" and private enclave segments in the development that are privately owned and maintained by the residents. I personally wouldn't buy into a situation like that though, neighbors tend to make for terrible mutual cooperatives.