Abstract: M any cut slopes w ere formed on w estern section of the Changde- Jishou Expressw ay inH unan prov ince, where the topograph ica l and geo log ica l conditions are complex. Stab ility issues of the cut slopes are outstand ing. Based on a deta iled geo log ical survey, this paper presents the structure classificat ion o f the cut slopes accord ing to the relat ionship betw een rock mass occurrence and slope dip direction. The relationsh ip betw een deformation and failure mechan ism and its composit ion, rock structure and w ea thering extent is studied in detai.l The paper fur ther identif ies the deformation and fa iluremodes o f the cut slopes. It suggests the safe tymeasures corresponding to different slope types and failuremodes. The suggestionsw ere ut ilized and achieved exce llent resu lts.