A Stable Future

This article reports slope stabilisation trials in northern Laos, south-east Asia. Routes 13 North and 7 have suffered from landslides where steep slopes are underlain by jointed and weathered phyllite. The current project is to develop a series of trials aimed at using low cost, local resource solutions to remedy a range of slope instability problems, from actual landslides to gradual displacements of the road formation. Thirteen sites were chosen, three of which will be stabilised by bio-engineering techniques of grass, shrub and tree planting, with low cost engineering structures. The remaining ten are the subject of geotechnical assessment: a borehole and trial pitting investigation was combined with topographical survey and geological mapping. A second phase of work will combine drainage, earthworks and retention structures.