Abstract: The invention provides a tunnel lining and a method of constructing the tunnel lining by aligning prestressed resilient lining panels of uniform thickness, such as plywood sheets, where longitudinal edges of the panels abut to form a ring. The longitudinal edges of the panel correspond to, and impose thrust against a second longitudinal edge of an adjacent panel. The thrust causes bending of the panels to form an arc about the longitudinal axis of the panels and to cause internal stresses within the ring to counteract loads applied at the exterior of the panels. The ring can consist of multiple layers of panels.