North American Tunneling Conference 2026 Convenes in Anaheim
More than 1,200 attendees convened in Anaheim, California, this week for the North American Tunneling Conference 2026 (NAT 2026). Hosted by the Underground Construction Association (UCA), a division of SME, NAT 2026 brought together decision-makers, engineers, contractors, and suppliers to explore the technologies, design approaches, and delivery strategies shaping the industry’s future. NAT 2026 kicked off on Tuesday and concludes on Thursday.
Held every two years, NAT has become a cornerstone event for North America’s underground construction community. The 2026 conference featured the theme “Building Tomorrow’s Tunnels Today,” reflecting the industry’s focus on efficient project delivery, digital integration, and sustainable underground development.
The program included a comprehensive technical program featuring more than 120 presentations and case studies covering topics such as TBM performance in mixed ground, risk mitigation strategies, ground improvement technologies, shaft design, and sustainability metrics in tunnel lifecycle planning. High-profile panel discussions examined the expanding use of digital twins, data analytics, and AI-driven design tools aimed at improving safety, productivity, and project transparency.
At the opening session, UCA bestowed its prestigious awards. Recipients included: UCA Lifetime Achievement Award – Jerome P. Shaw, President, SAK LLC; Amanda Elioff, Sr. Vice President, National Practice Lead – Tunnels, WSP USA; and Thomas J. Clemens, President of North American Tunneling, DSI Underground (retired); UCA Muddy Boots Award – John Kiernan, General Superintendent, Skanska Civil Northeast; UCA Outstanding Educator Award – Tom Iseley, Professor of Engineering Practice, Purdue University; UCA Person of the Year – Moussa Wone, Chief Engineer & Vice President, DC Water; UCA Young Member Award – Jack Lawrence, Tunnel Engineer, HNTB; UCA Project of the Year $100 – $500M – Fermi Forward Discovery Group (FFDG), Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility Project; UCA Project of the Year Less than $100M – Merco Inc., Legislative Plaza Renovations Project. The UCA Technical Innovation Award will be presented to Arup, Loupe360 and Automated Tunnel Inspection Innovation at the Cutting Edge Conference this fall.
Beyond the sessions, the NAT Exhibit Hall featured leading suppliers showcasing the latest equipment, materials, and monitoring solutions. The exhibit floor remains a hub for networking, where contractors, owners, and vendors connect to exchange insights, share lessons learned, and explore new business opportunities.
Anaheim provided a fitting backdrop for NAT 2026. Its proximity to major Southern California infrastructure initiatives—spanning water, rail, and transit—anchored the event in one of North America’s most active tunneling markets.
