It is vital to get the accurate data of the shear strength parameters of gravel soil with different water content and compactedness before they conduct the stability analysis for gravel soil roadbed. Under several test conditions, a series of direct shear tests were performed by using some gravel soil samples obtained from a selected roadbed which is under the influence of water level fluctuation. The corresponding results show that the gravel soil cohesion increased as the water content of fine soil increases till it meets its peak value, then it will decrease as the water content keeps increase. However, the internal friction angle will decrease slowly with the increase of water content of fine soil in the initial phase, and then it will decrease rapidly as the water content keeps increase. And on the other hand, the fitted shear strength parameters calculated from the test data has been influenced by the pre-load values that used to prepare soil samples, especially for the condition that the pre-load value less than the normal stress value applied in the direct shear test. All in all, the fitted shear parameters will be controlled by the relationship among water content, pre-load value and normal stress.