Road Tunnels and Fires: Implications for the Transport of Used Nuclear Fuel

In October 2007, just north of Los Angeles, California, a chain-reaction accident involving numerous tractor trailers in the I-5 Newhall Pass truck bypass tunnel occurred. This accident also involved an intense fire that damaged the concrete walls of the tunnel and required the tunnel to be closed for repairs. The objective of the work described in this paper was to determine exposure temperatures in the tunnel and evaluate the conditions likely found in this fire. The study included analyses of materials recovered from the incinerated vehicles and a fire model of the Newhall Pass tunnel fire. While a significant amount of fire modeling has been completed, the results are considered preliminary and, as a result, will not be discussed in detail in this paper. Analysis of a used nuclear fuel transportation package will also eventually be completed as part of this study. This paper will include a discussion of the results of analyses of the materials recovered as well as the potential implications of this accident for the transportation of used nuclear fuel by truck.