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UK projects shortlisted for 2025 ITA Tunnelling Awards

By Richard High, 23 July, 2025
The inside of Long Itchington Wood Tunnel, a 1.6 km twin-bore tunnel built as part of the HS2 high-speed rail line in Warwickshire. Constructed using a tunnel boring machine (TBM), it was designed to protect the ancient woodland above, reducing environmental impact. The concrete-lined tunnel plays a key role in HS2’s central section, forming part of the route between London and Birmingham. Long Itchington Wood Tunnel is a 1.6 km twin-bore tunnel built as part of the HS2 high-speed rail line in Warwickshire. Constructed using a tunnel boring machine (TBM), it was designed to protect the ancient woodland above, reducing environmental impact. The concrete-lined tunnel plays a key role in HS2’s central section, forming part of the route between London and Birmingham. Image: HS2 Limited.

Two UK-based entries have been shortlisted in this year’s ITA Tunnelling Awards, with winners to be announced in October at a special event in Belgrade, Serbia.

The prestigious awards – organised by the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA-AITES) – celebrate global excellence in underground infrastructure across a range of technical and project categories.

From 51 entries spanning 27 countries, just 25 have been selected as finalists in seven categories. The UK features in two:

  • In the Project of the Year (€100m–€500m) category, the Long Itchington Wood twin bored tunnels – part of the HS2 high-speed rail project – will compete alongside major tunnelling projects in the US and China.
  • In Product/Equipment Innovation of the Year, a polymer innovation for water treatment and site-wide recycled water management from the UK has been recognised as a breakthrough in sustainable tunnelling practice.

Other shortlisted projects include large-scale infrastructure schemes from China, France, Italy, Sweden and Singapore, with innovations ranging from low-carbon segment production and robotic shotcreting to renewable energy retrofits and tunnel education initiatives.

Finalists will present their entries at a symposium hosted by the Serbian Association for Tunnels and Underground Structures, held in conjunction with the Southeastern European Tunnelling Conference. The awards gala will take place the same evening.

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