Webuild: technology for Terzo Valico dei Giovi-Genoa Junction Project honoured at 2026 ITA Tunnelling Awards

Technical Innovation of the Year award for semi-automatic ribs developed for Terzo Valico dei Giovi–Genoa Junction project

Safety, technology and automation at service of major underground project in highly complex geological context

Award presented by International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA-AITES) confirms Webuild’s ability to transform on-site experience into industrial innovation that can be exported internationally

MILAN, November 5, 2026 – Webuild has won the 2026 ITA Tunnelling Award in the Technical Innovation of the Year category for the Terzo Valico dei Giovi–Genoa Junction project. It received the award from the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA-AITES) in recognition of the engineering excellence and technological innovation the Group has deployed during the construction of one of Europe’s most complex railway infrastructure projects.

The award recognises the Automated Primary Supports for Tunnelling Under Tectonic Stresses and Severe Squeezing: Design and Implementation at Terzo Valico dei Giovi,” a solution that involved installing inverted arched steel ribs along tunnel walls. The ribs were designed for the complex geological conditions of the project—a strategic railway that will enhance rail connections between Northern Italy and northern Europe.

This innovation stems from Webuild’s experience gained during the excavation of the tunnels in this unique geotechnical context. The convergence of the Alps and Apennines in the area where the railway is to pass caused high levels of tectonic and asymmetric stress, leading to significant ground deformation during the excavation. It occurred at considerable distances from the tunnel face and placed stress on the tunnel support structures. In this particularly challenging situation, Webuild developed a new approach to managing primary tunnel supports: a solution that combined safety, automation and engineering.

The ribs, or arches — structural elements essential for stabilising the tunnel walls during the early stage of the excavation — were installed using a semi-automatic system that sped up and streamlined various phases of the handling, positioning and installation of these components. In this way, the Group was able to overcome technical and geo-mechanical challenges, and ensured maximum safety for its workers. By combining the semi-automatic ribs with the operational procedures, the system enhanced operational control, improved the precision of its execution and reduced workers’ exposure to risk during the most delicate stages of the job. This is an example of how automation does not replace workers but complements their work by providing technological tools that improve control over activities and safety conditions.

The technology was developed by Webuild and specialised technology and industrial partners within the framework of an open innovation model that combined engineering and design expertise, applied research, and construction experience. The approach allowed for the development of high-tech solutions for a challenging construction site, creating value for the infrastructure sector.

The award confirms Webuild’s position among the leading international operators in the underground construction sector and its ability to translate technological research into actual solutions for the construction of major underground projects, with workers’ safety at the centre of every process.