Restricted Transportation Routes Some states have laws that restrict the highways over which certain hazardous materials can travel. Restrictions are typical for areas where there are high densities of people and highly traveled or critical tunnels and bridges. In addition, there may be local ordinances that restrict transportation of hazardous materials.
Some of these restrictions resulted from public reaction to disasters. For example, a railroad tank car containing LP gas caught fire and exploded in Crescent City, Illinois, in 1970. This disaster occurred as the train was passing through the town and the explosion destroyed most of the businesses.