Tired of Potholes on the Banks-Vernonia Trail? Here’s How to Help.

By Dave McQuery

The B-V Trail clearly has some rough spots. If you can help, L.L. Stub Stewart State Park rangers and volunteers from Portland Bicycling Club will have a series of workdays to improve the ride. There are lots of potholes to be filled, and if you have ridden all the way to Vernonia you just might have noticed a couple of bumps in the trail caused by tree roots. The park has acquired equipment to grind those off and repair the trail. We (PBC has been doing this for three years) also patch potholes, not just by filling the hole and hoping for the best but by cutting out the damaged pavement clear to the gravel bed beneath, heating and shoveling an asphalt product into the cavity, and using a large machine to tamp it down. We then spread sand on top and tamp it in. The sand keeps tar from sticking to shoes and tires. We will also be cleaning out culverts and using weed whackers to control underbrush.

Got some time? We’d love to have your help. Our July work dates are July 6th and July 20th. Contact Dave McQuery, [email protected], for more information.