NEWS & UPDATES

Westerscheldetunnel: Europe’s longest bored road tunnel in soft soil

Opened in 2003, the 6.6 km Westerscheldetunnel in the Netherlands requires permanent concrete repairs after two decades of operation. Scheduled to start in January 2027, the complex restoration involves managing heavy works alongside continuous single-tube traffic flow. WTC2027 Antwerp delegates can visit the live project during a technical tour on April 29.

Muir Wood Lecturer Eivind Grøv: Pushing the Limits of Tunnelling

With more than four decades of experience in tunnelling and underground space, Eivind Grøv has shaped projects, research and industry thinking around the world. Ahead of delivering the Muir Wood Lecture at ITA WTC2027, he shares his experiences, insights and vision for the future of the industry in this interview.

Full Paper Submission Portal Now Open

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.

NEC4 in Belgium: World’s largest awarded ECC contract used in Tunnelling

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.

Antwerp neighbourhood sewer tunnelling works

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.

1,300 Abstracts Received for ITA World Tunnel Congress 2027

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.

The Flag Has Been Handed Over: Antwerp is Next!

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.

Underground Antwerp is Getting a Major Upgrade!

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.

Project Update on the The Antwerp Masterpiece – Oosterweel Connection

Take a look at the video with Oosterweel Connection Project Updates: For a visual deep-dive into the site’s progress and a preview of what you will see during the ITA WTC2027.