Meet Sanja Zlatanic

Sanja Zlatanic, PE
Fellow, Chair - National Tunnel Practice
HNTB Corporation

With over 35 years of experience in tunnel and underground infrastructure projects, Sanja has contributed to complex, highprofile developments across the globe. Her expertise spans design management, independent verification, and technical consultancy for major transit and infrastructure initiatives. Sanja’s extensive experience and global perspective make her a distinguished leader in underground engineering, bringing innovative solutions and technical excellence to complex infrastructure challenges. 

Key Objectives for Advancing ITA

Through strategic collaboration, Sanja aims to propel the International Tunneling and Underground Space Association (ITA) forward in several critical areas:

• Enhancing ITA’s Global Influence – Strengthening ITA’s reputation within the tunneling and underground industry as a driving force for innovation and progress. Emphasizing its role in improving quality of life and safety, particularly in addressing the challenges posed by climate change and its global impacts.
• Optimizing Working Group and Committee Effectiveness – Establishing clear qualitative and quantitative benchmarks to assess and enhance the engagement, efficiency, and outreach of ITA’s working groups and committees. Ensuring broader industry participation and impact across international tunneling and underground engineering communities.
• Empowering the Next Generation – Spearheading initiatives to attract, engage, and support young professionals in the tunneling and underground sector, fostering their active involvement in ITA’s global and U.S.-based programs to cultivate the industry’s future leadership.
• Advancing Best Industry Practices in Developing Nations – Promoting knowledge-sharing, capacity-building, and the implementation of globally recognized best practices in tunneling and underground infrastructure development. Supporting emerging member nations in adopting ITA guidelines toward sustainable, safe, and efficient engineering solutions to enhance urban resilience and economic growth. 

A Global Perspective

With over 35 years of experience, Sanja brings an international portfolio of projects, including the following highlights:

• LA Metro Sepulveda Transit Corridor, Los Angeles, CA, USA

  • Lead tunnel engineer for planning phase comprising defining most practical and least environmentally impactful route for the potential future longest tunnel in the U.Ss providing better transit between the San Fernando Valley,

• ​Sound Transit -The West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions (WSBLE) Project, Seattle, WA, USA

  • ​Technical advisor to ST for tunnels and complex underground structures through Alternatives Development Phase to establish and refine specific route, station locations and types, and tunnel alignment and types during planning and advanced conceptual stage of environmental assessment considering public and third-party inputs leading to the Sound Transit Board identifying the project Preferred Alternative.

• Republic of Turkey Ministry of Transport, Istanbul Strait Road Crossing (Eurasia) Tunnel, Istanbul, Turkey

  • Project Manager and Independent Design Verifier for category 3 structures, systems and facilities for this $1.35B Istanbul Strait Road Tube Crossing project of 14.5 km in length that includes 5.4 km of road tunnels and 3.4km Bosporus Strait Crossing double-deck bored highway tunnel 13.2m (43.3 ft) in diameter (sixth largest tunnel in the world), and 2km Asian and European side tunnel approaches (roadways, toll plazas, ventilation and system buildings and facilities).

• Washington State DOT – Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement, Seattle, WA, USA

  • Member of expert review panel and technical oversight lead for $3.1 Billion design build project of 2.1 miles bored tunnel that replaces the Alaskan Way Viaduct along the central Seattle waterfront. She lead technical oversight for tunnel liner, interior structures and settlement mitigation measures design.

• Toronto Transit Commission, Transit Expansion LRT Program, Toronto, ON, Canada

  • Consultancy and technical support for establishing technical and engineering standards for $8.2 Billion Transit Expansion LRT Program for Toronto Transit Commission, including criteria for tunnel precast concrete segmental liner design. She provided independent verification of tunnel liner performance during major fire event in the tunnel for 10.5 km long Eglington Crosstown Light Rail Transit twin bored tunnels, constructed by EPB TBM with 5.75 m clear inside diameter, and crossing beneath densely populated urban areas where loss of liner would cause loss of ground and large surface settlement impacts.

• NJ Transit / Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Trans-Hudson Express (THE), NJ/NY, USA

  • Chief engineer for underground structures and tunnels responsible for final structural designs and interdisciplinary design integration for all underground structures and facilities (running tunnels, caverns, ancillary and utility tunnels and shafts), including development and implementation of design strategies, criteria and mitigation methods for special loading conditions – fire, blast and structural considerations – to prevent progressive collapse.

Awards and Recognition

• Engineering News-Record (ENR) - Global Best Project, Bridge/Tunnel, Istanbul Strait Road Tube Crossing, 2016

• International Tunneling Association (ITA) - Tunneling Project of the Year, Istanbul Strait Road Tube Crossing, 2015

• Gold Award for Engineering Excellence, NY America Council of Engineering Companies, East River Ventilation Shafts Project, 2011

• Outstanding Underground Project, American Shotcrete Association, Weehawken Tunnel and Bergenline Avenue Station, 2006

• Grand Conceptor Award, ACEC, 63rd Street Connection Project, 2001

• Gold Award for Engineering Excellence in Transportation and Mega Projects Category, NY ACEC, Rehabilitation of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, 1998

Professional Affiliations

• International Tunneling Association, Executive Council Member and Tutor for ITA WG 5 and ITACOSUF

• Underground Construction Association (UCA), Member

• Associated Research Centers for Urban Underground Space; Secretary General for the Board of Directors

• George A. Fox Conference, Program Committee Chair

• ​The Moles Member (“The Moles” is a prestigious, national fraternal organization for heavy construction professionals, particularly those involved in tunneling and underground projects)

• Deep Foundation Institute - Tunneling and Underground Committee, Advisory Group

• American Concrete Institute (ACI), Member

• American Society of Civil Engineers, Member