What could be better than a round birthday? Just another annual ring, some might say. But the even number with the zero stands for another decade full of new experiences and events.
With the opening of the Warnowtunnel on 12 September 2003, we are now on the verge of the 20th anniversary of Germany’s first privately financed road construction project. The fastest connection across the Warnow is underneath it – already in the 1960s there were plans to build a fixed crossing of the Warnow. However, several decades passed before implementation, until the ‘Fernstraßenbauprivatfinanzierungsgesetz’ laid the legal foundation for this pilot project in 1994. In 1999, construction of the tunnel began with an investment of 220 million euros. Three and a half years later, the structure with its six tunnel elements and a total length of 790 m was opened by the then Federal Minister of Transport, Dr Manfred Stolpe.
Twenty years later, we look back on a successful time. Today, an average of 14,000 vehicles use the tunnel every day. Many people from Rostock appreciate the time saved when travelling to the other side of the city, be it for shopping, on the way to work or “a quick trip to the Baltic Sea”. Holidaymakers also like to take this route and reach Warnemünde, for example, without traffic jams. Thanks to regular modernisation measures and investments, users always reach their destination safely, because the Warnowtunnel is equipped with the most modern safety systems and facilities. We have also not lost sight of the milestones in the last twenty years. For example, in July 2023, the 80 millionth vehicle drove through the tunnel.
Now the 20th birthday of the Warnowtunnel is also to be celebrated in a fitting manner. On Saturday, 16 September 2023, a birthday party will be held on the Warnow Tunnel site – with live music, sports, a raffle, guided tours of the site, catering and many other great things that Otter Oscar has prepared. We cordially invite our customers and all interested parties to our event. Admission is free for all guests.
From 11:00 a.m., doors and gates will be opened for our visitors. Participation activities by many Rostock organisations and sports clubs await them. The Rostock Zoo, the Rostock Seawolves, the Rostock Piranhas, the Rostock Griffins, the Rostock Bucaneros, the TG triZack Rostock, the TSV Rostock, the SV Warnemünde, the SV47 Rövershagen and the voluntary fire brigade Groß Klein will be present. On a stage, presenter Tim Lindemann will lead through the day. Great musical contributions are offered by the trio “Freshband” at several performances throughout the day. The musical highlight is Emilia Sismey, known from KiKA television and chosen as “Songwriter of the Year 2022” with her hit “Outside And Inside”.
As a transport company, the issue of driving safety is very close to our hearts. The Association against Alcohol and Drugs in Road Traffic (BADS) and the Verkehrswacht Tessin – Sanitz e. V. offer visitors an educational programme with an impressive range of activities. These include an intoxication goggle course and a reaction test device for cars and bicycles. In a driving simulator, visitors can experience how the consumption of alcohol, for example, affects their ability to drive. Virtual reality makes it possible.
There are many great prizes to be won in a competition. The winners are announced in three draws and can collect their prizes directly. The main prizes are two iPhones, an e-scooter and a Delonghi fully automatic coffee machine. In addition, visitors can take a look behind the scenes of the Warnowquerung operation during guided tours. What does our control room look like? What actually happens under the toll station? In addition, the Lord Mayor of the Hanseatic City of Rostock, Ms Eva-Maria Kröger, will congratulate the Warnowtunnel on site.
There is something for the whole family to discover. Of course, the little ones are also catered for. A children’s birthday party with traditional children’s games offers plenty of scope for enthusiasm and merriment. As a special guest, body painting world champion Claudia Kraemer will offer face painting for children and transform some visitors into colourful works of art. Mascot Otter Oscar will undoubtedly be in on the action everywhere and will join Griffino from the Griffins and Wolfi from the Seawolves to create a great atmosphere. At 17:00 this great day will come to an end.
Guests can reach the festival grounds by car via the A19 Rostock Nord motorway exit. Parking is available within walking distance on the forecourt of the port area of the PLU company. Due to the extremely limited number of parking spaces, we strongly recommend that all guests use public transport. It is only a 200 m walk to our premises with bus line 45 to the Oldendorfer Straße stop.
We are very much looking forward to celebrating this special and beautiful day with our guests and hope for the highest possible attendance. We wish all tunnel drivers a good and safe journey at all times.
Warnowquerung GmbH & Co. KG
