Chapter 61. Rules and Regulations Governing the Transportation of Hazardous Materials Through Bridge-Tunnel Facilities
24VAC30-61-10. Applicability and purpose.
This chapter establishes the rules by which all transporters of hazardous materials are governed while traveling through certain bridge-tunnel facilities.
Statutory Authority
§§ 33.2-210 and 33.2-300 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR385-01-05:1 § 1; Volume 12, Issue 2, eff. November 15, 1995; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 12, eff. February 25, 2026.
24VAC30-61-20. List of state-owned bridge-tunnel facilities in the Commonwealth.
The following table lists the six state-owned bridge-tunnel facilities in the Commonwealth to which this chapter applies. A list of telephone numbers for each facility is available at https://www.vdot.virginia.gov/travel-traffic/freight/hazmat/.
Name of Facility | Route | Type |
Big Walker Mountain Tunnel | Interstate 77 | Rural |
East River Mountain Tunnel | Interstate 77 | Rural |
Elizabeth River Tunnel-Downtown | Interstate 264 | Urban |
Elizabeth River Tunnel-Midtown | Route 58 | Urban |
Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel | Interstate 64 | Urban |
Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel | Interstate 664 | Urban |
For purposes of this chapter, the facilities listed in the table in this section are classified into two groups: rural and urban.
Statutory Authority
§§ 33.2-210 and 33.2-300 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR385-01-05:1 § 2; Volume 12, Issue 2, eff. November 15, 1995; amended, Virginia Register Volume 17, Issue 17, eff. June 6, 2001; Volume 28, Issue 1, eff. October 12, 2011; Volume 40, Issue 19, eff. May 6, 2024; Volume 42, Issue 12, eff. February 25, 2026.
24VAC30-61-30. Restrictions on hazardous material transportation across rural facilities.
For the two rural tunnels, no restrictions apply on the transport of hazardous materials, so long as transporters and shippers are in compliance with 49 CFR 100 through 180 and any applicable state regulations. In addition, the Commissioner of Highways may, at any time, impose emergency or temporary restrictions on the transport of hazardous materials through these facilities, so long as sufficient advanced signage is positioned to allow for a reasonable detour.
Questions on this section of the regulation should be directed to the VDOT Office of Safety, Security and Emergency Management, which can be reached by calling VDOT at 804-786-4692. Copies of the regulation will be provided free of charge. For copies, please write to:
Virginia Department of Transportation
ATTN: Office of Safety, Security and Emergency Management
1221 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Statutory Authority
§ 33.2-210 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR385-01-05:1 § 3; Volume 12, Issue 2, eff. November 15, 1995; amended, Virginia Register Volume 28, Issue 1, eff. October 12, 2011; Volume 28, Issue 4, eff. November 23, 2011; Volume 40, Issue 19, eff. May 6, 2024; Volume 42, Issue 12, eff. February 25, 2026.
24VAC30-61-40. Restrictions on hazardous material transportation across urban facilities.
Hazardous materials are regulated in the four urban tunnels based on the "hazard class" of the material being conveyed. The tables in this section list those categories of materials grouped under the designations "Prohibited," "No Restrictions," or "Restricted."
*PROHIBITED* Materials defined in the following classes are not allowed passage through the four urban tunnels. | |||
CATEGORY | PLACARD NAME | PLACARD REFERENCE | |
1.1 | Explosives 1.1 | 49 CFR 172.522 | |
1.2 | Explosives 1.2 | 49 CFR 172.522 | |
1.3 | Explosives 1.3 | 49 CFR 172.522 | |
2.3 | Poison Gas | 49 CFR 172.540 | |
4.3 | Dangerous When Wet | 49 CFR 172.548 | |
6.1 (Packing Group (PG) I, inhalation hazard only) | Poison Inhalation Hazard | 49 CFR 172.555 | |
Materials in the following hazard classes are not restricted in the four urban tunnels. | |||
CATEGORY | PLACARD NAME | PLACARD REFERENCE | |
1.4 | Explosives 1.4 | 49 CFR 172.523 | |
1.5 | Explosives 1.5 | 49 CFR 172.524 | |
1.6 | Explosives 1.6 | 49 CFR 172.525 | |
2.2 | Nonflammable Gas | 49 CFR 172.528 | |
3 | Combustible | 49 CFR 172.544 | |
4.1 | Flammable Solid | 49 CFR 172.546 | |
4.2 | Spontaneously Combustible | 49 CFR 172.547 | |
6.1 (PG I or II, other than PG I inhalation hazard) | Poison | 49 CFR 172.554 | |
6.1 (PG III) | Inhalation Hazard | 49 CFR 172.555 | |
6.2 | ( must be labelled as an Infectious Substance) | 49 CFR 172.432 for the labeling requirement | |
7 Radioactive | Radioactive | 49 CFR 172.556 | |
9 | Class 9 | 49 CFR 172.560 | |
Materials in the following hazard classes are allowed access to the four urban tunnels in "Non-bulk" (maximum capacity of 119 gallons/450 liters or less as a receptacle for liquids, a water capacity of 1000 pounds/454 kilograms or less as a receptacle for gases, and a maximum net mass of 882 pounds/400 kilograms or less and a maximum capacity of 119 gallons/450 liters or less as a receptacle for solids) quantities per container only. | |||
CATEGORY | PLACARD NAME | PLACARD REFERENCE | |
2.1 | Flammable Gas | 49 CFR 172.532 | |
3 | Flammable | 49 CFR 172.542 | |
5.1 | Oxidizer | 49 CFR 172.550 | |
5.2 | Organic Peroxide | 49 CFR 172.552 | |
8 | Corrosive | 49 CFR 172.558 | |
Statutory Authority
§§ 33.2-210 and 33.2-300 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR385-01-05:1 § 4; Volume 12, Issue 2, eff. November 15, 1995; amended, Virginia Register Volume 17, Issue 17, eff. June 6, 2001; Volume 28, Issue 1, eff. October 12, 2011; Volume 40, Issue 19, eff. May 6, 2024; Volume 42, Issue 12, eff. February 25, 2026.