Blacksburg, VA (October 2, 2009)... Forest Service road crews are working to finish repairs to the Patterson Creek Road (Forest Service Road 184) in Craig and Botetourt Counties in time for most of the fall hunting season. Crews are using heavy equipment to repair/replace culverts, reestablish drainage ditches, reconstruct hardened road base, and fill the largest mud holes. The road was closed in the spring due to extensive damage created by illegal off-road vehicle use that resulted in citations being issued to 39 individuals.
“The repairs are going well,†reports Eastern Divide District Ranger Cynthia Schiffer. “Although progress has been impacted by vandalism and thunderstorms, we will have the road opened by October 16th.â€
Equipment on site has been damaged by vandals twice. Anyone with information about this vandalism is encouraged to contact the Forest Service at 1-866-241-6669.
Southwestern Virginia Four Wheelers assisted the Forest Service with the repair work. The club acquired a grant from United Land Action Fund to help cover the cost of stone, arranged for donated lime from Titan America (Roanoke Cement) and had individual club members donate straw for erosion control. Martin Morrison, Club President, said “The club would like to thank all of the companies and individuals for their donations. As a club, we are proud to assist the Forest Service in promoting responsible use of our public lands.â€
http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/newsroom/2009/10/patterson-rd-reopen.shtml