YALE, Iowa, September 3, 2009 – A 3-mile stretch of the Raccoon River Valley Trail in northern Guthrie County is scheduled to be closed on Tuesday, September 8, so that a coating of “Paverex” asphalt rejuvenator can be applied, according to trail manager Joe Hanner, director of the Guthrie County Conservation Board.

The closing will be in effect from 130th Street north to the Guthrie-Greene County border.  In other words, the closing will be from one mile south of Iowa Highway 141, to the north three miles — and that includes the trail’s pass through the unincorporated town of Herndon.

“We plan to have the trail open again the next day, Wednesday, September 9,” Hanner said. “But, as with all trail construction projects, the work date depends on favorable weather.”

The Paverex chemical tightens and re-seals asphalt surfaces, generally helping extend the life of the asphalt another three to four years, or longer.  It has been used in other areas of the RRVT in the past two years.  Employes of the DENCO Corporation will be doing the application.

In a separate project, Hanner said construction bids will be invited soon for the resurfacing of five miles of the RRVT between Yale and Panora — the last original surface on the trail, dating to 1989.  That resurfacing, which will use concrete, is expected to be started next spring.  That project has been authorized to use $945,000 in federal economic stimulus funding.