The construction of our tunnel was realised in several phases.
Phase 1 – Preparation of construction site

Phase 2 – Installation of construction containers

Phase 3 – Relocation of traffic and cables

Phase 4 – Creating the sealing walls

The sealing walls, which were up to 30 metres deep and as wide as an arm, prevent water penetrating the tunnel through the soil above the entrance.
Phase 5 – Excavation work in building dock

Two tunnel elements were created here at the same time. The concrete mixer at the back of the photo was used to produce the concrete to manufacture all constructions on site.
Phase 6 – Construction of tunnel elements

Two elements were each completed in three sections. To be able to float the tunnel elements, the construction dock was flooded and then the water was pumped out.
Phase 7 – Dredging of the tunnel route

This enabled the subsequent supply of individual tunnel elements with a length of 120 metres each to the Warnow west bank. Each day 4,000 to 5,000 cubic metres of dredged material was extracted.
Phase 8 – Floating of tunnel elements

Then the construction dock was pumped empty again and the procedure was repeated – three times in total.
Phase 9 – Sinking and positioning of tunnel elements

After flooding the construction dock, the tunnel elements were floated into the lower Warnow using sluice gates and temporarily stored in the seaport. The next step was to sink and position the elements.
Phase 10 – Construction of the toll station

Phase 11 – Opening of the project on 12th September 2003

However, the approx. 500 invited guests also included other important persons such as the Mayor of the Hansa city Rostock, Mr Arno Pöker, the Senator for Finance and Tourism, Mr Dieter Schörken, the Executive Board Member for Shareholders, Mr Michel Côte for Bouygues Travaux Publics S.A., and Mr Jim Craig for Macquarie Bank Group. A festival was also organized on the site next to the toll station for the residents and this ended with a magnificent fireworks display.