Building on-ramps in SimCity 3000

Contributor/author(s): Carl Chartier

There are a number of requirements before highway on-ramps can be built in SC3K. You need to have the following:

• 3 clear and level tiles alongside the highway for the on-ramp.
• 1 level road tile alongside the highway for the on-ramp to connect to. The road may cross under, butt up against, or run along the side of the highway.
• 5 straight and level highway tiles. These consist of: One over or next to the road tile, three where the on-ramp connects to the highway, and one just past where the on-ramp connects to the highway (there can't be a road or rail under this one either).

If your highway meets these conditions, then 'click' on the highway button and choose 'on-ramp'. When you place the cursor over the desired location, the three tiles outlining the on-ramp location should turn blue. If this happens, click the mouse and your on-ramp should appear.

Ando adds an alternate method for constructing on-ramps.

You can build ramps to connect two interchanging highways using the on-ramp tool, but this costs quite a lot. An alternative is to simply build the over/under interchange, then click on each of the four corners with the same Highway tool. Only the blank square of terrain flush to both highways should be highlighted when you click. If there's nothing in the way, you'll get an interchange ramp just like one you'd get with the on-ramp tool, except the cost will be §75 less without the Tire Recycling ordinance or §69 less with it. This can help when building many interchanges, and it's convenient to not have to change tools. Also, unlike the on-ramp tool, the Highway tool won't lose its drop shadow.

One other thing, if you build obstructions on the two other tiles that the on-ramp drop shadow would cover, you'll get a floating one-tile section of interchange ramp. I'm not sure if this is functional or not, but it can save you two tiles of space per interchange.

See also
Beautify your highway system
Half-highways and divided highways
How to make a highway tunnel