Abstract: With increased traffic mileage and operation time of highway tunnels in Henan province, tunnels are having increasing numbers of defects. In order to provide a basis for treatment and to improve the maintenance mangement of highway tunnels in Henan province, the main tunnel defects are analyzed and a technical evaluation of tunnel operation statuses is carried out. Problems, suggestions and countermeasures concerning tunnel maintenance concepts and systems as well as proper treatments are presented based on research, inspections, sampling and statistics and investigations of highway tunnels with different grades and maintenance levels in Henan province. The prospects for tunnel operation management are projected in terms of "life cycle management and maintenance", "customized tunnels", "preventive maintenance", "intelligent maintenance " and so on.