Controlling erosion and re-establishing vegetation are key parts of most road or highway construction/rehabilitation projects. Roadside embankments, shoulders, medians, and other nonpaved surfaces can be vulnerable to the elements, leading to excessive runoff, rutting, and damaged aesthetics. Conventional methods to prevent these conditions include root reinforcement systems and hydroseeding. This article discusses an alternative erosion control mechanism that has been gaining in popularity: the use of compost mixtures for roadside revegetation. The focus is on an FHWA test project along the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville, NC, in which a compost mixture was used to repair an area of the Parkway that was damaged by a landslide. Results indicate that compost shows so much potential that it should be considered as a best management practice. Compost also has an added environmental benefit of reducing biodegradable wastes that go to landfills.
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