This paper provides a comprehensive review of fire-retarding asphalt pavements for urban road tunnels, focusing on fire generation mechanisms, evaluation methods, flame retardants, and recent developments in flame-retardant technologies. Urban road tunnels are essential for alleviating traffic pressure and improving urban resilience, but asphalt pavements pose fire risks due to their flammable nature. Fire hazards in tunnels are exacerbated by the increasing use of electric vehicles and high-density transportation, particularly flammable materials. Asphalt pavements release harmful substances and smoke under high temperatures, increasing fire risks and endangering lives. Therefore, it is critical to investigate fire-retarding asphalt materials and their potential use in urban road tunnels. The paper discusses the mechanisms of road tunnel fires, including the combustion of solid and liquid materials, the spread of fires, and the toxic fumes produced. It also explores the characteristics of road tunnel fires, such as low visibility, high temperatures, and the difficulty of rescue operations. The combustion behavior of asphalt pavement in road tunnels is analyzed, highlighting the production of flammable and toxic gases, which can hinder evacuation and rescue efforts. The paper reviews evaluation methods for flame retardancy, including flash point tests, oxygen tests, vertical and horizontal flammability tests, cone calorimeter apparatus (CCA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). These methods are crucial for assessing the fire resistance of asphalt materials and ensuring the safety of road tunnels. The paper also discusses measures to improve the fire resistance of asphalt pavement, including the use of flame-retardant additives, the development of fire-retardant asphalt mixtures, and the application of nanotechnology to enhance fire resistance. It highlights the importance of developing safe and effective fire-retarding materials, evaluation methods, and standards for road tunnel fire safety. The paper identifies the limitations of current research and provides an outlook for future research to contribute to the resilience of urban road tunnel structures and the longer service life of asphalt pavement in semi-closed road tunnels. It emphasizes the need for further research to address the challenges of fire hazards in urban road tunnels and to develop more effective fire-retardant technologies.This paper provides a comprehensive review of fire-retarding asphalt pavements for urban road tunnels, focusing on fire generation mechanisms, evaluation methods, flame retardants, and recent developments in flame-retardant technologies. Urban road tunnels are essential for alleviating traffic pressure and improving urban resilience, but asphalt pavements pose fire risks due to their flammable nature. Fire hazards in tunnels are exacerbated by the increasing use of electric vehicles and high-density transportation, particularly flammable materials. Asphalt pavements release harmful substances and smoke under high temperatures, increasing fire risks and endangering lives. Therefore, it is critical to investigate fire-retarding asphalt materials and their potential use in urban road tunnels. The paper discusses the mechanisms of road tunnel fires, including the combustion of solid and liquid materials, the spread of fires, and the toxic fumes produced. It also explores the characteristics of road tunnel fires, such as low visibility, high temperatures, and the difficulty of rescue operations. The combustion behavior of asphalt pavement in road tunnels is analyzed, highlighting the production of flammable and toxic gases, which can hinder evacuation and rescue efforts. The paper reviews evaluation methods for flame retardancy, including flash point tests, oxygen tests, vertical and horizontal flammability tests, cone calorimeter apparatus (CCA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). These methods are crucial for assessing the fire resistance of asphalt materials and ensuring the safety of road tunnels. The paper also discusses measures to improve the fire resistance of asphalt pavement, including the use of flame-retardant additives, the development of fire-retardant asphalt mixtures, and the application of nanotechnology to enhance fire resistance. It highlights the importance of developing safe and effective fire-retarding materials, evaluation methods, and standards for road tunnel fire safety. The paper identifies the limitations of current research and provides an outlook for future research to contribute to the resilience of urban road tunnel structures and the longer service life of asphalt pavement in semi-closed road tunnels. It emphasizes the need for further research to address the challenges of fire hazards in urban road tunnels and to develop more effective fire-retardant technologies.