Sunken Highway Problems

[mikedav1 0]

Hi guys, love the site and am new to the modding game - impressed with your improvements! I really want to build a sunken highway but Im stuck. I have downloaded loads of walls, the lot digger tool and the NAM. However when I use the highway lot digger, drag my highway through, etc I cannot build ramps to ground level - it always sinks the terrain by a few metres making it messy (see image). I have tried both 'road' and 'highway' lot diggers, same problem.... also happens if I try to build an overpass using puzzle pieces - they are never 'flat' but angle up at the sides to create a humped bridge, and sink the terrain on either side. I want it to look like your beautiful designs with a sunken highway and perfectly flat surface / overpasses...what am I dojg wrong?<br /><br />

[prince_of_sims 0]

Highway Menu -> Single Side Parallel Ramps. TAB through all the options till you find one for Ground Highway+[Transit network you need]. and that's it!

EDIT:

overpasses can be created by network puzzle pieces. TAB through the options to find the various options. you want to place the OnSlope puzzle pieces on the slope, and the [Transit network] over Highway pieces over the ground highway. to use them, you need to dig your sunken highway using smoncrie's Hole Digging Lots. they're at the height for the puzzle pieces. to connect the overpass road to one running parallel to the highway, place the T- puzzle pieces, and then drag the road/one-way. the ramps must be placed a few tiles from the intersection. play around till you find the right positions.

[mikedav1 0]

Hmm thanks but thats what I have done and it does as above? Ie it sinks the terrain. It never makes it level with ground level down to a ramp, it pushes the terrain down a bit to meet the highway and looks messy

[prince_of_sims 0]

that's not the Ramp option the ramps are under then. play around with the buttons till you find the ramps that only have ONE ramp. i cant remember offhand which button that is, but i know it's near the end of the highway menu. hope you can find it.

EDIT:

the Ramp you're looking for is indeed under the Single Sided Parallel Ramps option. you need to TAB through the options till you find the one that fits. the Ramps are only available if you have the NAM installed.

[mikedav1 0]

This is where I am stumped...I am definetly using the one you mention (the only on that will place) but it distorts my terrain and looks awful...can't get it smooth like you guys?

[prince_of_sims 0]

the reason is because you're trying to connect the ramps to avenues. there are no "special" ramps for avenues. if you really want to connect them to an avenue, split the avenue using one-ways and then build the ramps (use single sided one-ways). the NAM adds the option to split avenues. just make sure you keep in mind of the direction of each side of the avenue.

[mikedav1 0]

Thanks for all the help, I would be happy if I could connect them to roads let alone avenues but just can't make it work - it screws with the terrain. I have finally got overpasses  to work (albeit with hump back bridges), but no ramps at all except the distorted terrain above <br /><br />Is the highway lot digger tool  the right depth?

[Sim shady 12]

if you want perfect depth use the 15 meter hole digger.  it makes your crossing bridges perfectly flat.  other than that i'm lost on whats going wrong if you are following all of prince_of_sims suggestions.

[mikedav1 0]

Yup, 15m depth is what Im doing..god knows why it won't work ... just bends the terrain like above. Bugger.

[prince_of_sims 0]

im saying it again, you're using the wrong type of ramps. if you were, the intersections wouldn't be forming like that. i will post pictures when i get to my computer tomorrow morning (it's evening here) unless someone else posts them first.

[mikedav1 0]

I think I have managed it! Your pics would be really helpful to make sure, but I think there are alot more ramp options under that single parallel ramps menu than I realised and I am now using 'Ground Highway On Ramp -Road' . It seems to be working! Horray Thanks guys, my mistake...no avenue links but a road is fine. May remove the avenues and put roads for a cleaner look. What tile set should I use for the wall behind the ramps?

Only other problem I have is my overpasses are not flat and look like this - any ideas? This is as tidy as I can make it, but not keen on the hump back (its ok but I prefer your flat overpasses!) Thanks for all the patience guys!

[prince_of_sims 0]

use the Hole Digger for Sunken Highway. it digs at a perfect 15m. the Hole Digger for Road that most people use only digs at 14m which causes the humps.

and you don't need to replace the avenues with roads. you can split the avenues into one-ways if you have the NAM, and then use a Ground Highway to One-Way On/Off Ramp. when splitting, you just have to take care and note the direction each side of the avenue needs to follow.

as for walls, both buddybud and jeronij have released wall sets that cover the ramp portions. only, buddybud's walls require you use the 14m Road Hole Digger to dig your sunken highways. this will create a hump when you make the overpasses.

EDIT:

i will post pictures once i finish taking them.

[mikedav1 0]

Thanks for all the help, I have figured out a couple of my errors. First, for the bridges to be flat the holes need to be dog using the 'sunken' lot digger and not the 'ground highway' lot digger (the last one), which is highly confusing! This makes the overpasses perfect. I am still having nightmares with the ramps though as it takes a good 30-45 minutes of rotating using the home key and cycling through the ramps to try and get the right one; every time you move near the highway, the preview flips to a wrong angle and its a nightmare to place. Is there an easier way?

[prince_of_sims 0]

not that i know of, it's all trial and error. eventually you'll get to the point where you know which one will fit and which one wont.

EDIT:

anyone still interested in pictures? this is the final effect that i got.

[topcliff 1]

Well, I've read through this, and I've only got one word for you: NAM! Network Addon Mod. You need the terrain-forming ramps, the NAM overpasses, and definitely some better freeway walls. TopCliff

[prince_of_sims 0]

he's got the NAM, and he's also solved his problem.

[mikedav1 0]

Thanks guys, I did a huge search for Highway (sunken) help and everything reffered to digging the trough rather than ramp placement. SO for anyone who has the same problem placing ramps I did, I have discovered a way to make it work perfectly!

1. Use the 'Sunken' Lot Digger and not the 'Sunken Highway' Lot Digger to dig your trough. This way overpasses built using the puzzle pieces will be flat, not humped.

2. Go to the bottom of the ramps list and select 'Single Paralel Ramps'. The First 'Ground Ramp to Road' selection is the you need (2nd option on the list)

3. Place the highlighted white square of the ramp on your side road, and press the End key until its in the desired position. Plop.

4. Move to the diagonal opposite ramp position and do the same. Plop.

5. Go to the bottom of the ramps list and select 'Single Paralel Ramps'. The Second 'Ground Ramp to Road' selection is the you need (4th option on the list)

6. Place the highlighted white square of the ramp on your side road, and press the End key until its in the desired position. Plop.

7. Move to the diagonal opposite ramp position and do the same. Plop.

Its now a 20 second job, ace! I just need to play with highway walls now and Ill have something looking as good as yours guys Where do I find those concrete ones above in the menus ? I've added the plugins, just can't find them. Cheers

[prince_of_sims 0]

depends on which ones you've downloaded. jeronij's newer walls appear in the Misc. Transit menu. his older ones are in the Parks and Recreation menu. buddybud's walls are in the Power menu.

[mikedav1 0]

Ah thanks. Im noticing I have too many wall options so Im going to delete them all and just install the newest ones.