Cut and side cast construction is the simplest and cheapest construction method. Excavated material is cut and pushed into position (side cast)
Diagram 1: Cut and fill side cast construction
Use this method:
- On flat or rolling ground
- Where fill can be stabilised
- There is no risk of sediment entering a waterway
- Where side cast can be compacted to support logging traffic
- Side cast material is contained within the roadway by slash windrow
- It has low risk of movement
- The road shouldn’t have been built this close to a stream
- Side cast material has entered the stream. This may lead to council prosecution
How steep is too steep for sidecasting?
There is no rule as it depends on the site, however:
- Most non-compacted fill will not be stable if steeper than 60%. It changes depending on the material. Rockfill is the most stable
- Once the ground gets steeper than about 40% the fill is harder to contain and stabilise.
- The side cast is contained, stable and away from water
- The fill slope is less than 60%
- The fill can support logging traffic
- Side-cast construction should not have been used this close to a stream. End-haul construction is the correct method
- Material has gone to the gully bottom. Sediment could enter a waterway
- The fill has spilled 50 m down the slope (see the vehicle, arrowed, for scale)