Studying the mechanism of roadway failure and instability in coal seams with rock parting is essential to the prevention and control of rockburst in the coal mine production process. In this work, based on the rockburst accident of the 1305 working face in the Zhaolou Coal Mine (ZCM), a numerical model was established using UDEC numerical simulation software to study the failure and instability process and influencing factors of a coal seam roadway containing rock partings under unloading action. We proposed a coupling instability mechanism of the rock parting slip and fracture mechanism. The failure and instability process of roadways under different influencing factors was studied. The results enrich the theory of the dynamics of surrounding rock fractures in coal mines, further clarify the potential dangers to mining-area roadways and working faces, and provide technical information to ensure the safe and efficient mining of bifurcated coal seams.