Abstract: In order to study the influence of gradual excavation of roadway on the stability of surrounding rock under different lateral pressure coefficients, FLAC^3D software was used for modeling on the basis of similar simulation tests. The feasibility of the numerical model was determined by comparing the test results with the numerical simulation results. Based on the numerical simulation results, the evolution laws of principal stress difference and plastic zone of gradual excavation of roadway under five groups of different lateral pressure coefficients were studied. The results show that when the lateral pressure coefficient is constant, with the excavation of the roadway, the principal stress difference between the roof and the floor first increases and then decreases and tends to be stable, and the principal stress difference in the sidewall first slowly increases, rapidly increases, slowly increases to the highest point and tends to be stable. With the increase of lateral pressure coefficient, the influence degree of roadway stability is roof, floor and two sides. The distribution range of shear failure of surrounding rock plastic zone is slowly increasing, decreasing and increasing. The plastic zone of two sides is mainly shear failure.