The full paper submission portal for the ITA World Tunnel Congress 2027 Antwerp is now open. We now invite authors whose abstracts have been accepted or provisionally accepted to prepare and submit their full papers by 10 October 2026 at 23:59 CEST.

The ITA World Tunnel Congress 2027 in Antwerp will feature a major milestone in tunnelling: the first use of NEC4 in Belgium at the Oosterweel Link Project, which is also the world’s highest-value NEC4 ECC contract awarded today.

In Antwerp, engineers are replacing old brick sewers with a modern separated system using pipe jacking, 8 to 10 metres below ground and with minimal surface disruption. This neighbourhood project shows how underground engineering can improve climate resilience, reduce flooding and make urban areas safer and more liveable.

The ITA WTC2027 Antwerp Call for Abstracts has concluded with approximately 1,300 submissions from 57 countries. The Scientific Committee is now reviewing all submitted abstracts. Authors will be notified of the outcome of the review process by 5 July 2026.

At the closing ceremony of WTC2026 in Montréal, the ITA flag was officially handed over to the Organising Committee of ITA WTC2027 Antwerp, in the presence of Consul General of Belgium Mr. Wilfried Pfeffer.

Today, 04 May 2026, De Lijn starts the renovation of the Antwerp pre-metro tunnels. The oldest section of the tunnel dates back to March 1975, making it 51 years old and well overdue for a major overhaul.