This report presents information on cost-effective and sustainable road slope stabilization techniques, with a focus on shallow or near-surface slope stabilization and related erosion control methods used on low-volume roads. Many of the identified solutions apply to higher volume roads as well.
Specific items discussed in this report include the importance of soil and compost, the importance of having a surface and subsurface water management plan, soil bioengineering / biotechnical solutions, reinforced soil solutions, other vegetative and earthwork solutions, and appropriate erosion control measures to maximize the slope stabilization for a specific treatment.
In the United States and internationally, most roads are located in rural areas and have low traffic volumes. Worldwide, there are an estimated 21 million miles (33.8 million km) of roads, of which 18.6 million miles (30 million km) are rural, low-volume roads (Faiz 2011). In the United States, there are approximately 4 million miles (6.4 million km) in the road system, of which 3 million miles (4.8 million km) are rural, low-volume roads maintained by some 35,000 federal, state, and local agencies.
Low-volume roads often omit surface slope protection. This can lead to slope failure, erosion, and sedimentation, which contribute to water quality degradation and increased road maintenance demands, traffic delays, safety problems, damage to other resources, and, in the long term, reduction in the service life of roads. Soil erosion can cause flooding, increased water treatment costs, siltation of harbors and channels, loss of wildlife habitat, disruption of stream ecology, reduced recreational value, and adverse aesthetic impacts.
Source: TRB
Authors: Laura Fay | Michelle Akin | Xianming Shi
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