The Craziest Interchanges from Your Country/State

[flyatl 4]

Not necessarilly between two highways but:

Gibralter

[SHADD0W09 2]

that pic reminded me of thiss ba advert thats been apearing on uk tv

[Wiimeiser 445]

To me, crazy doesn't always have to mean that it's a mess of spaghetti.

It's the complete lack of spaghetti, more like.

When these highways were constructed, the planners could not know that within a few decades the amount of traffic would be 10 times higher.

In these examples 3 highways intersect and there is a smaller road going into the city.

First: Julianaplein in Groningen.

http://goo.gl/maps/b5WW

This is where the A28 crosses the A7. The A28 is the major highway from the central part of the country to the north, and the A7 is the highway from Amsterdam that goes north across the 30km long Afsluitdijk and then to the German border via Groningen.

The intersection of these two important highways at the most important city of the north is just an at-grade intersection.

Second: Knoopunt Joure

http://goo.gl/maps/T8wy

The same A7 meets the A6, also from Amsterdam but going trough the polder.

Here they solved it by building a giant roundabout with a diameter of 250 meters.

Not sure how you'd fix the first one, except by building a ring road. For the second, it could easily be converted to a Pinavia

[MandelSoft 2,770]

The had plans to reconstruct the first one, Julianaplein, to something like this:

Currently, only the bypasses under the A7 (now still signed as N7) are realised...

Joure is going to be re-build to this:

Best,

Maarten

[stlsuburb 2]

The result of jamming 4 interstates on one sketchy bridge into a major CBD

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=St.+Louis+MO&hl=en&ll=38.61573,-90.178463&spn=0.01576,0.033023&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=64.113178,135.263672&hnear=St+Louis,+Missouri&t=m&z=16

[Ltw 401]

The interchange of two highways in Estonia

And, yes. There is no overpass. But it is still a highway whit a max. speed of 110 km/h.

Crossing a highway is also quite strange.

This situation for example

If you travel from east to west and you want to go to that road to the south, you have to drive to the road which is going north. Then you have to make a U-turn (on a highway ) so that you go east again and you could go south eventually.

[mayordaniel1 13]

The junction of Interstates 20 and 59 with US Highway 31, the Red Mountain Expressway, near downtown Birmingham, Alabama. US 31 continues north as Carraway Boulevard in North Birmingham.

A closer look:

[JohnDaniel17 2]

Not necessarilly between two highways but:

Gibralter

Not necessarilly between two highways but:

Gibralter

Yep! You were right! A highway or avenue, then intersected by a airport with the taxiways and runways intersecting the highway or avenue, who so ever have made a mod like this in SC4, i would download it... (The part of the highway is a landmark!) one time, when i went vacation in gibraltar, i saw this stretch of road on the airport, and i was shocked!

[JohnDaniel17 2]

United Arab Emirates:

1. Al Wahda Road - S 113 (Road that acts like a interstate highway/avenue) and King Faisal St. - S 112 (a Street that acts like a avenue)

Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=25.328375,55.395114&num=1&t=h&z=17

Visibly, it's a half-cloverleaf intersection, the problem is because of it's design, traffic from S 112 goes down the ramps, and goes to S 113. Traffic is high because all people goes to S 113, and an almost impassable gridlock on the intersection especially below the bridges and the ramps.

2. Al Wahda Road - S 113 and Al Khan St. - S 108 (Another street that acts like a avenue)

Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=25.313615,55.381499&num=1&t=h&z=17

The Cloverleaf is not a problem, but the roundabout north of that is a nightmare, cause' traffic from S 113 and Jamal Abdul Naser St. goes around that roundabout, causing a lot of traffic in the intersection.

Part 2 next

[JohnDaniel17 2]

Part 2: United Arab Emirates

3. Sheikh Rashid Rd. - E11 (One of the largest Highways in Dubai), Al Rebat St. - D83 (A Avenue to Festival City Mall), D70 Avenue, and 5th Street.

Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=25.23798,55.342543&num=1&t=h&z=17

This is one of the largest intersections ever in Dubai, 1 major highway, 2 major avenues, and a street all converging here. Light spagettification of the intersection with several bridges and ramps, only light to heavy traffic is in the E11 and D83, and it looks like a park than a intersection, Because near to it is a Golf Course and a Aviation College.

4. E11 (Sheikh Rashid Rd.) & D85 (Baniyas Rd.)

Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=25.249742,55.336062&num=1&t=h&z=17

Another spagettificated intersection, because of the mall beside it, the intersection was spagettified so almost 75% of traffic from D85 goes to the mall's premises. And traffic from the D83 avenue goes under this intersection (a small tunnel), and also goes to the mall. (There's a wide highway lookalike, its a elevated rail towards a elevated rail to subway transition.)

5. D70 and Airport Road (a Major Avenue) - D89

Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=25.24718,55.352615&num=1&t=h&z=16

This intersections is just one intersection, they all link to the 2 terminals in the airport. Its a maze of ramps, bridges, and underpasses, and overpasses.

6. Emirates Road (A Major highway in UAE) (Sharjah Ring Road as they call it in the Emirate of Sharjah) - E311 and S112 or Mahalia Rd. a major avenue in Sharjah.

Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=25.296602,55.436946&ll=25.296369,55.437269&spn=0.006179,0.009645&num=1&t=h&z=17

For the start, its a plain, simple intersection with a roundabout below the highway overpass, another engineering at it's best. Problem is that the roundabout below makes a big effect on the overpass above, traffic goes from moderate to heavy, because of the roundabout below, in effect also the overpass changes from light to moderate traffic and sometimes heavy, especially during rush hours when most of the people from Sharjah go to work in Dubai, and from work to their homes in Sharjah. In the past few years, Sharjah Government tried to change this intersection, but failed, so they created a new cloverleaf intersection in the north of this, following E311.

7. E311 and S120 (University City road, a avenue going to Sharjah University Complex)

Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=25.316233,55.451644&ll=25.316049,55.452225&spn=0.006178,0.009645&num=1&t=h&z=17

Another uniquely engineered intersection design, There are 2 roundabouts in each side of the S120 before passing up the E311. And it was designed for the university that leads to it.

8. Al Awir Road (Avenue to the desert) and Emirates Road (E311)

Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=25.179874,55.39669&num=1&t=h&z=16&lci=transit_comp

The simple cloverleaf pattern can be seen, but the northern side of the cloverleaf was a few meters away from Al Awir Road (The overpass), so they created a ramp from E311 to Al Awir road for that purpose.

9. Sheikh Zayed Road (another major highway and the dangerous highway in all of UAE), the Financial Center Road (Avenue), Al Safa Street

Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=25.204951,55.270692&num=1&t=h&z=17&lci=transit_comp

The Spagettification at it's best, look at it, its a maze of underpass, overpass, tunnels, ramps, exits, entrances, and lines. And look where do all these lead, Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall.

10. The Causes of Spagettification of roads and highways:

1. Malls

2. Landmarks

3. Leisure Places (Parks, Golf Course, etc.)

4. Airports

5. Major Mass Transit Terminals (Combination of Bus, Train, Tram, and other mass transit vehicles)

6. Entrance and Exits to Major Commercial and Residential Zones, and Industrial Zones)

7. Interconnected Intersections

8. Less Space to Occupy

9. Designed to be Spagettified

10. The Architect who drawn the original design accidentally a line or arc because he/she was so tired, and eyes started to pop out.

So Please, design your cities first, before making it. We have the power in SC4 and CitiesXL. Lessen spagettification, cause it just too much, and a crash might happen. But it depends to you. I love that Highway and runway intersection or road or avenue or street to runway intersection, please someone do a mod for that (Workable for NAM and RHW please)

[rweather5 22]

I don't live in New York, but this is a crazy interchange.

[SteveMSim 275]

I'm surprised that the Golden Glades Interchange north of Miami, Florida is not mentioned. In all of my travels, I've passed through some confusing interchanges. But, to me, nothing tops out the Golden Glades interchange. Try getting from eastbound Palmetto Expressway to northbound I-95.

[Xascul 7]

yeah i think that one is up there for being the worst one. the east LA interchange is pretty bad because i use it relatively frequently, the catch is when you're going northbound on the 5, it squeezes to 2 lanes and you have to shift over another 2 to stay going northbound, same thing if you're going east bound on the I-10

[SteveMSim 275]

yeah i think that one is up there for being the worst one. the east LA interchange is pretty bad because i use it relatively frequently, the catch is when you're going northbound on the 5, it squeezes to 2 lanes and you have to shift over another 2 to stay going northbound, same thing if you're going east bound on the I-10

Sounds like eastbound I-635 as you approach I-35E, the Stemmons Freeway, in northwest Dallas. The lanes continuing eastbound narrow to two lanes, creating a bottleneck since they turned a third lane, on the left, into an HOV lane. That interchange is confusing enough since Harry Hines Blvd. meets 35E there.

[Avskygod0 2]

We have a weird interchange for a newly constructed bridge. https://maps.google.rs/maps?hl=en&ll=44.791239,20.429968&spn=0.006662,0.016512&t=h&z=17

[Ol' Michiganian 6]

Here's my contribution to this thread. Here is one from my state:

http://goo.gl/maps/W6kFU

I heard somewhere that this interchange was a remnant from a plan to build a Mound Road freeway, but that never happened and all we got is Mound Road's very wide median and this interchange, in which I-696 has to curve slightly south on both sides of the interchange.

And here's a very crazy one from another state:

http://goo.gl/maps/OF5em

This is in Cleveland, Ohio. Take a look at how I-90 comes in from the east along Lake Erie and then suddenly makes a 90-degree curve south inland and OH 2 continues the paralleling-Lake Erie freeway. The 90-degree curve is why the speed limit on I-90 falls to 35 m.p.h. No wonder why the 90-degree curve is known as the "Dead Man's Curve". Now just imagine having to use this interchange on your way to work...

  Edited August 27, 2012 by The187inDetroit  

[mark405 22]

Here are some interchanges of the Metro Manila Skyway - An expressway built over an expressway - the South Luzon Expressway.

[lookingforviaducts9 2]

I remembered travelling through a 7-stack in Shanghai during one of those overseas trips when I was small... not sure if it was this one though.

http://goo.gl/maps/xt3Ia

These are a must to travel through when I go back to Hong Kong every year by bus:

This comes after the Tsing Ma bridge (famous for being the longest bridge in the world [still?] that carries both road and rail traffic)

http://goo.gl/maps/4kVjt (Northwest Tsing Yi Interchange)

Further down:

http://goo.gl/maps/2BNz8

This is before Stonecutters bridge (2nd longest cable-stayed span in the world) <-- I sorta figured out this information in the brackets are really redundant, but whatever. It's not too scary, but I like how it makes an intersection with a highway at ~330^o

Even further down (this one's quite a killer, but then I don't drive (I'm not old enough, anyway)):

http://goo.gl/maps/HZgDc (Lai Wan Interchange)

This one intersection is like a cross between a cloverleaf and a Y-interchange. The highway running across is a double-decker one, by the way, and if you shift northwards you'll see it peeking out with a covered sound barrier. Meanwhile, off-and on-ramps are also mixed together, and if memory serves me right there's a metro (two lines; Airport Express and Tung Chung Line) running underneath everything, on the ground.

Further down:

http://goo.gl/maps/KuLy9

Before the Cross-harbour tunnel. This one's not as bad as the previous one, but it's still 4 (5, if you count the intersection southwards) on/off-ramps put into one space.

Miraculously the bus always runs at full speed, no jams (but I haven't tried landing just before rush hour kicks in though)

http://goo.gl/maps/kXA2p

This one's always jammed.

http://goo.gl/maps/Cg9Lp

This isn't entirely relevant but I'd like to bring into the spotlight a highway(edit: viaduct) that cuts across (or rather, into) a carpark in Yau Ma Tei

  Edited August 31, 2012 by lookingforviaducts9  

[TekindusT 3,809]

^ The first interchange in your list is officially the craziest interchange ever seen in this thread!

[mrsmartman 200]

I remembered travelling through a 7-stack in Shanghai during one of those overseas trips when I was small... not sure if it was this one though.

http://goo.gl/maps/xt3Ia

These are a must to travel through when I go back to Hong Kong every year by bus:

This comes after the Tsing Ma bridge (famous for being the longest bridge in the world [still?] that carries both road and rail traffic)

http://goo.gl/maps/4kVjt (Northwest Tsing Yi Interchange)

Further down:

http://goo.gl/maps/2BNz8

This is before Stonecutters bridge (2nd longest cable-stayed span in the world) <-- I sorta figured out this information in the brackets are really redundant, but whatever. It's not too scary, but I like how it makes an intersection with a highway at ~330^o

Even further down (this one's quite a killer, but then I don't drive (I'm not old enough, anyway)):

http://goo.gl/maps/HZgDc (Lai Wan Interchange)

This one intersection is like a cross between a cloverleaf and a Y-interchange. The highway running across is a double-decker one, by the way, and if you shift northwards you'll see it peeking out with a covered sound barrier. Meanwhile, off-and on-ramps are also mixed together, and if memory serves me right there's a metro (two lines; Airport Express and Tung Chung Line) running underneath everything, on the ground.

Further down:

http://goo.gl/maps/KuLy9

Before the Cross-harbour tunnel. This one's not as bad as the previous one, but it's still 4 (5, if you count the intersection southwards) on/off-ramps put into one space.

Miraculously the bus always runs at full speed, no jams (but I haven't tried landing just before rush hour kicks in though)

http://goo.gl/maps/kXA2p

This one's always jammed.

http://goo.gl/maps/Cg9Lp

This isn't entirely relevant but I'd like to bring into the spotlight a highway(edit: viaduct) that cuts across (or rather, into) a carpark in Yau Ma Tei

Land consuming interchange

 

 

Tall viaduct interchange

http://www.arup.com/~/media/Images/Projects/S/Stonecutters_Bridge/Open/stonecutters_open_900x600_2.ashx?mh=800&mw=1000

[clhigh7 583]

I've seen some Houston area stacks posted on here but so far nobody has mentioned to wacky interchange of the Westpark Tollway and Beltway 8 on the westside of Houston. In my opinion it is the oddest interchange in the area. Features under-grade clover ramps......yikes.

 

[TrickyMario76543 67]

BUMP!

Here's a crazy one from my state were not only three roads intersect with each other, a train line runs through the junction too!

There use to be another one of these crazy junctions at the junction of Boronia and Dorset Roads in Boronia, but it was rebuilt in the late 90's and the rail line was lowered into a cutting to get rid of the crossing.

Here's a video of the crossing in action.

 

 

[Amtrak Productions 0]

There is one that is in framingham that has a traffic light  and a train crossing with a six lane intersection. And a rotery

https://www.google.com/search?q=ep+77+good+friday&rlz=1C9BKJA_enUS685US685&hl=en-US&prmd=vin&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjB0a263NvQAhWnwlQKHcDUDE0Q_AUICCgC&biw=1024&bih=653&dpr=2#imgrc=dSh9pedMYMyODM%3A

[matias93 7,535]

This.

They got rid of a nice but absurdly overdemanded roundabout and are currently building this crazy spaghetti replacement, which connects not less than: three avenues, two tunnels, two highways, one expressway, and three local roads, including the main access to the United Nations ECLAC headquarters, all of that moving around a river, a hill and a consolidated CBD (which includes the paranoically armed US embassy, another security problem to resolve) where demolitions are a big no. Due to very unwise urban planning, this interchange concentrates the biggest part of the car influx from the northeastern part of Santiago, the wealthiest (and because of that, more car using) boroughs.

I don't even want to try replicating this monster (in no small degree because I really like roundabouts), but I guess it would be possible with NAM 40 or some heavily modded CSL. Volunteers?

[MeMyself&I 379]

2 hours ago, matias93 said:

They got rid of a nice but absurdly overdemanded roundabout and are currently building this crazy spaghetti replacement

Looks really expensive!

What is the grating over the top of the tunnel entrance for?  To keep cars from falling on you??

[matias93 7,535]

I have no parameters to know what would be expensive on pharaonical infraestructure works, but according to pre-project estimations, just the replacement of the roundabout was about 25 million USD; but the complete Centre-Orient Santiago Program took a toll of around 500 million USD. And that's not even counting the San Cristóbal Tunnel, another 70 million USD on the same part of the city.

3 hours ago, MeMyself&I said:

What is the grating over the top of the tunnel entrance for?  To keep cars from falling on you??

Ehh, close but no; is to keep people from falling on you. Chile has a relatively high suicide rate and that implies some issues on transportation. On the same vein, the Metro workers now are capable of cleaning a 'sigma event' (so they call it) on less than 15 minutes, avoiding passengers to be overly delayed.

[MeMyself&I 379]

4 minutes ago, matias93 said:

Ehh, close but no; is to keep people from falling on you. Chile has a relatively high suicide rate and that implies some issues on transportation. On the same vein, the Metro workers now are capable of cleaning a 'sigma event' (so they call it) on less than 15 minutes, avoiding passengers to be overly delayed.

Yeesh!  I had no idea.  I can't even imagine something like that being installed on American highways.  People would be up in arms over the sheer implications.  I've seen fencing along overpasses but no grating over the road below.  Learn something new every day.

 

[matias93 7,535]

And this is benevolent! Falling over that grate would give you some bruises, but not much more. The previous method was to put large spear-shaped bars after the fences, granting anyone jumping down that the body wouldn't reach the ground, but be impaled. Really grotesque and also inconvenient for the poor people with the job of cleaning the mess. I couldn't find images of the fences, luckily; it seems that all those aberrations have been retired for good.

EDIT: Correction, there are still on some stations...

  Edited January 15, 2017 by matias93  
losing faith on humanity

[MeMyself&I 379]

3 hours ago, matias93 said:

And this is benevolent! Falling over that grate would give you some bruises, but not much more. The previous method was to put large spear-shaped bars after the fences, granting anyone jumping down that the body wouldn't reach the ground, but be impaled.

That's crazy!  Seems like the planted spears might be an effective deterrent to jumpers but, then again, it must not be that much or they would still be using them.  I would think twice before hurling myself on pointed rebar!  What a strange and brutal world this is!

[HayleyRenaNemeth 465]

On 1/15/2017 at 4:17 PM, matias93 said:

This.

They got rid of a nice but absurdly overdemanded roundabout and are currently building this crazy spaghetti replacement, which connects not less than: three avenues, two tunnels, two highways, one expressway, and three local roads, including the main access to the United Nations ECLAC headquarters, all of that moving around a river, a hill and a consolidated CBD (which includes the paranoically armed US embassy, another security problem to resolve) where demolitions are a big no. Due to very unwise urban planning, this interchange concentrates the biggest part of the car influx from the northeastern part of Santiago, the wealthiest (and because of that, more car using) boroughs.

I don't even want to try replicating this monster (in no small degree because I really like roundabouts), but I guess it would be possible with NAM 40 or some heavily modded CSL. Volunteers?

this is something so complex I can't even begin to comprehend it.