Not even gray clouds and summer rain could dampen the excellent mood at the Warnow Tunnel this morning, July 7, 2026. Quite the contrary: Around 10:00 a.m., Warnowquerung GmbH & Co. KG reached another milestone. As Ms. Bürk drove through, the exact 94-millionth vehicle since the tunnel opened rolled through the toll station.
It was a perfect surprise for the driver when, immediately after passing through, she was greeted by the Warnowquerung team for a celebratory tribute. Due to another sudden rain shower, the ceremony had to be kept brief so that Ms. Bürk could continue her journey from Lütten Klein back home to Gehlsdorf. Only Oscar the otter could have stayed out in the rain all day—and he felt right at home despite it. As a token of appreciation and in keeping with the impressive anniversary milestone, Torsten Raths, the tunnel’s managing director, presented her with a generous surprise package. In addition to a large, beautiful bouquet of flowers—from which a small stuffed otter peeked out—the visibly surprised winner was delighted to receive a gas gift card worth 94 euros. A large, generously filled gift basket also provided culinary delights to enjoy afterward.
To ensure that the view of the Hanseatic city can be enjoyed even when the weather is nice, the latest edition of Helmut Aude’s well-known photo book “Rostock Panoramas” was also included, along with many other small gifts.
Ms. Bürk uses the tunnel almost daily for work and praised the quick connection between the western and eastern parts of Rostock. Especially when there’s heavy traffic and roadwork in the city, the time saved by taking this route is well worth it. She’s well-equipped for this with an RFID tag in her vehicle and benefits from fast passage and a discounted rate year-round.
The Warnowquerug team would like to thank Ms. Bürk for her regular use of the tunnel, as well as all loyal drivers, and wishes everyone a safe and pleasant journey as we head toward the next million!
Caption: The 94-millionth driver at the toll station
From left to right: Torsten Raths, mascot Otter Oskar, Mareike Bürk
