This paper provides a comprehensive review of fire-retarding asphalt pavements for urban road tunnels, addressing the increasing fire hazards due to the growing popularity of electric vehicles and high-density transportation of flammable materials. The review covers tunnel fire generation mechanisms, evaluation methods, flame retardants for asphalt pavements, and recent developments in flame retardant technologies. The authors highlight the importance of understanding the flammability of asphalt mixtures and asphalt pavements in urban road tunnels to promote the development of flame-retardant technology and reduce the damage and loss caused by asphalt road tunnel fires. The paper also discusses the limitations of current research and provides recommendations for future research directions, emphasizing the need for more comprehensive evaluation methods, design guidelines, and standardized testing standards. Additionally, the paper explores the potential of nanotechnology to enhance the fire retardancy of asphalt pavement in road tunnels.This paper provides a comprehensive review of fire-retarding asphalt pavements for urban road tunnels, addressing the increasing fire hazards due to the growing popularity of electric vehicles and high-density transportation of flammable materials. The review covers tunnel fire generation mechanisms, evaluation methods, flame retardants for asphalt pavements, and recent developments in flame retardant technologies. The authors highlight the importance of understanding the flammability of asphalt mixtures and asphalt pavements in urban road tunnels to promote the development of flame-retardant technology and reduce the damage and loss caused by asphalt road tunnel fires. The paper also discusses the limitations of current research and provides recommendations for future research directions, emphasizing the need for more comprehensive evaluation methods, design guidelines, and standardized testing standards. Additionally, the paper explores the potential of nanotechnology to enhance the fire retardancy of asphalt pavement in road tunnels.