Road tunnel restrictions – Guidance and methods for categorizing road tunnels according to dangerous goods regulations (ADR)

Abstract

The internationally adopted regulations regarding transportation of dangerous goods (ADR) contains since 2007 provisions concerning restrictions on the passage of vehicles carrying dangerous goods in road tunnels. The rules allow routing control for the transport of dangerous goods through tunnels, i.e. either granted passage through the tunnel or refer to an alternative route. Routing control is based on each tunnel is assigned to a specific category, i.e. tunnel category A–E, which to varying degrees regulate the types of goods to be allowed to go through the tunnel in order to avoid accidents with major consequences for human or tunnel construction. In this paper a comprehensive and flexible approach for categorizing road tunnels according to ADR based on risk analysis is presented. It is a logical decision model which, when followed should lead to well-founded basis for decisions regarding the appropriate categorization. Three levels of risk analysis methods is proposed; simple method, extensive method and expert assessment. In addition, a simplified risk analysis method that can be used in the risk-based categorization of existing and new tunnels is presented.