In order to study application effect of gob-side cutting roof roadway of shallow buried coal seam, 9102 air return roadway of Gaizhou Mine was taken as example, based on cutting roof short wall theory analysis, combined with roadway surrounding rock features, cutting roof parameters were designed. cutting and unloading pressure automatically roadway constant resistance anchor cable depth and cutting angle were discussed, anchor cable anchorage length of constant resistance and verification method after roadway formation were calculated, the law of roadway stability change was studied by observing the relationship between surrounding rock and working face mining distance, the pressure zone was settled. Field monitoring results showed that cutting roof roadway formation enables to control surrounding rock, providing reference for mines under similar condition.