LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A major hillside stabilization project along Harrods Creek is transforming both the landscape and the lives of nearby homeowners after a dramatic slope failure threatened multiple properties.
The concrete now covering the hillside is known as "shotcrete," a specialized material sprayed onto the slope and reinforced with long steel anchors—essentially giant screws—designed to keep the ground from shifting.
For homeowner Tony Buckley, the work brings relief.
"I feel like somehow God has something to do with this," Buckley said. "For a project to be done like this to basically secure all the properties down through here, I feel blessed."
Just last spring, Buckley wasn’t sure his home would survive. A portion of his garage foundation had been exposed, and parts of his backyard had collapsed into the creek.
"I never thought that much land could be moved at one time," he said. "I understand what a natural disaster is now."
What was once a densely wooded slope—covered in trees and vegetation as recently as late 2024—gave way after heavy rains in 2025, triggering a type of slope failure local officials say they had never seen before.
"We’ve never experienced this kind of slope failure before," said Amy Rose with Emergency Management.
Since late last summer, crews have been working to stabilize the area using a complex engineering approach. The project goes far beyond simply spraying concrete.
"It’s a very complex wall. It’s not just a bunch of concrete shot against a slope," Rose explained.
Construction crews have driven 40-foot steel pilings deep into the ground to create a shelf roughly 20 feet wide. Beneath the surface, a network of soil nail, some reaching 50 feet into the works alongside steel mesh and drainage systems to reinforce the hillside and prevent future movement.
"So those are soil nails," Rose said. "They’re about four inches in diameter, and basically they’re drilled in."
The goal is long-term stability. Officials say the structure is designed to last at least 30 years.
"Nobody wants to see something fail," Rose said. "They won’t construct or design anything that’s going to last less than their lifespan."
But that stability comes with trade-offs for homeowners. Before construction began, the city secured permanent easements on four affected properties, giving engineers ongoing access for inspections and maintenance.
"From the top of the wall down, it is now permanent metro easement," Rose said.
The project carries a total price tag of $2.8 million. Most of the funding is coming from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with the state contributing nearly $700,000 and the city covering just under $200,000.
When construction wraps up, a chain-link fence will be installed along the top of the hill. Property owners will also be required to obtain permits to access the creek below.
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