World Tunnel Congress 2019 in Naples Highlights Intersection of Tunneling, Archaeology, Architecture, and Art
The World Tunnel Congress (WTC) 2019, held in Naples from May 3-9, drew more than 2,500 attendees from 60 nations, with 20% being under the age of 35. This event, organized by ITA-AITES and SIG, included sessions focused on 'triple A' themes, co-chaired by Han Admiraal and Antonia Cornaro. Italy ranks as the top European country and second worldwide in tunnel length, surpassing 2,100 km. Significant projects include the Brenner Base Tunnel (55 km, 2007–2027), Rome’s Metro Line C (set to finish in 2022), and the 180 km Naples-Bari high-speed rail line. Additionally, the Bourbon Tunnel (430 m, opened 2010) and Metro Lines 1 and 6 are part of a comprehensive system exceeding 100 km of track.
Key facts
- WTC 2019 in Naples had over 2,500 participants from 60 countries.
- Italy has the longest tunnel network in Europe and second globally with over 2,100 km.
- Italian tunnel construction generates €15 billion in foreign revenue.
- 43 of 811 global construction sites by Italian firms are subway lines.
- Brenner Base Tunnel is 55 km, construction 2007–2027, operational 2028.
- Rome Metro Line C unearthed over 40,000 artifacts at San Giovanni station.
- Naples-Bari line is first European railway with Envision sustainability certification.
- Metro C TBM will reach within 20 m of the Colosseum in June 2019.
Entities
Artists
- Álvaro Siza
- Dominique Perrault
- Karim Rashid
- ABDR
- Oscar Tusquets Blanca
- Gae Aulenti
- Alessandro Mendini
- Han Admiraal
- Antonia Cornaro
- Elisabeth Reynolds
- Elsa Wifstrand
- Carlo Viggiani
- Sebastiano Pelizza
- Andrea Sciotti
Institutions
- International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA-AITES)
- Società Italiana Gallerie (SIG)
- ITACUS
- ANCE (Associazione Nazionale dei Costruttori Edili)
- Mostra D’Oltremare
- Palazzo Serra di Cassano
- Comune di Roma
- Roma Metropolitane
- Metro C
- Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali
- Associazione Culturale Borbonica Sotterranea
- Artribune
Locations
- Naples
- Italy
- Mostra D’Oltremare
- Palazzo Serra di Cassano
- Rome
- Fortezza
- Innsbruck
- Austria
- Brenner Base Tunnel
- San Giovanni
- Amba Aradam/Ipponio
- Fori Imperiali
- Colosseum
- Mura Aureliane
- Bari
- Frasso Telesino
- San Lorenzo Maggiore
- Appennines
- Saudi Arabia
- Australia
- Denmark
- Qatar
- Turkey
- France
- Romania
- China
- Europe
- Malaysia