AIX

@Cartographer29: You can eliminate that railroad crossing. I just made a crude re-creation of your interchange as shown below (I tried writing out an explanation, but I am a visual person ). All you need to do is add 1 tile to the width of your little RHW-2 Loop. Length stays the same. It took me a few minutes of tinkering because I have a slope mod installed. Yours on top, mine on bottom.

@Zodicus: Why thank you! *blushes* I have seen some of your work around these boards and you are very talented yourself. @Haljackey: I have taken the idea you have shown in your post and re-designed the basket weave. It takes up the same width as my old design, but less length. Here it is:

I do have the appropriate plop-on pieces for each of the carriageways - I suppose that isn't visible in a screenshot (I bump the contrast by ca 15% in all my screenshots). I really like the basket weave you have shown here; I have saved the image and may adapt it for this project. The two areas I have done this far already had very wide rights-of-way, but the next few sections do not. The design in the RHW guide was partial inspiration for the design I have selected - I was merely trying to avoid left exits.

I have a progress update for my "TREX" project mentioned up-thread. Below are some images from Phase 2 which passes thru the city of Pylaia. Images below are just for concept purposes exhibiting the freeway. My goal is to turn my busiest RHW into a super-wide super-capacity Express/Local Access system. This project spans several cities. I am not sure if I mentioned this in my last post, but the freeway being expanded is the M-5. I know there are a few zots, repetitive buildings, etc. I have an urban renewal project that I will finish tonight to make the area more "polished". All that coming to a CJ near you! Below is the interchange between the M-5 and the smaller M-4 spur route. On the far left of the image is where the Local Access Lanes split off from the main freeway. This area has some awkward splitters and lane reductions due to limitations in puzzle pieces in the RHW. I am not too concerned because they are only temporary, as they will be replaced as the Local Access Lanes are extended again in Phase 3. I am also optimistic that the next RHW will have more puzzle pieces Here is a typical basket weave interface so people may switch between the Express and Local Access lanes. I try to have at least one of these in each city tile. The last image I have for today is something I am still wondering/experimenting about. This has to deal with allowing the mutli-carriageways to cross city borders. I have used the neighbour-connecting pieces as shown below (photoshopped so the blue arrow may be seen). I have run both cities a few "game months" and have yet to see anything odd happen with this. If anyone else has played around with this sort of freeway, I am eager to hear about it.

Interstate 5 between Oregon and Washington is a duel-span drawbridge. The first span was built in 1917 and the second added in the 1950s. There are plans for a replacement, but it's been stalled in development limbo. $160 million has been wasted on consultants and not one shovel had yet to hit dirt.

I hate Coit Towers, believe me. After the freeway project, I have some large scale urban renewal planned. ;-)

Below is part of the the largest freeway expansion project in Thessalonian history. This took me several sessions over a period of about 3 days to perfect. Due to the large image size, I placed it in a spoiler tag below. It is called Project TREX (Transportation Expansion, named after a major project that took place in real life). Rather than one interchange, several were re-built here to accomodate express and local access lanes. At its widest, there are up to 17 total lanes. Shown below is Phase 1 in Meteora. Interchanges include two major arterials and a handfull of smaller ramps to provide easy access to industrial zones and to facilitate switching between express and local access lanes. Some thoughts I have after completing this: I don't have all the signage and lane markings that I want because of limited availability (I am hoping the next version of RHW when it comes out will help with this). As for signage, I have a few sets made by Maarten and I am open to suggestions. Currently the express lanes end at both borders. Anyone have any experience taking express/collector lanes across multiple city tiles? I am familiar with the neighbour connecter pieces of course, but having two sets of lanes for each direction may produce undesirable results. Below is a regional view of the project, green being this first phase and yellow being the future scope of the project.

@Patricius Maximus: Most of my freeway and interchange designs are based upon what is found in the Pacific Northwest in the United States, specifically Seattle and Portland. I often use the term "Arterial" to mean both surface-level boulevards and expressways (that may or may not have occasional traffic signals). Seattle has many of these "boulevard-expressway hybrids" (for want of a better term). I have pictures through out this thread and in my CJ. Further, I see myself spending so much time because I am obsessive-compulsive in some occasions. The grades must be smooth, all smooth curves (even in urban settings), complete lane markings and signage, etc.

I've been putting "live" regional shots all over the threads and my CJ of my city, Thessaloniki. Below is just an informal snapshot of the place as of today. 14 million Sims and counting. My goal here is population.

@Zodicus: I have easily spent 20+ combined hours on a single interchange system. Most of my interchanges between 2+ major motorways almost always involve a surface arterial or two as well. And I must always have smooth curves and no weaving. lol.

I LOVE that canal! You just gave me some inspiration for my next region/CJ. I just might work something similar into my current one.

Welcome to Ampelokipoi! I have been away for a while due to work, but I am eager to resume showcasing the Thessaloniki region! Above we have a broad cross-section of the city. It has a lot of variety for a small suburb to the urban core. From bottom to top, we have the very edge of the Port of Thessaloniki (continued on next tile), a closely packed coastal area with commercial and residential, and mixed developments up the hillside. High-rises are limited and placed strategically so as to not disrupt the views of the villas. Steeplechase Neighbourhood Taking a closer look, we have the Steeplechase Neighbourhood above. It features one of the many "pocket downtowns" that are starting to crop around the region. If you look closely, you can see a full wye interchange. The M-2 motorway runs from the left down to the bottom of the image and the eastern terminus of the M-5 is nestled closely with the hills, trees, and buildings.

@Zimmie: That looks like virtually every freeway/arterial interchange in Vancouver, Washington!

I bring you the long awaited Thessaloniki International Airport (THX). This is my first serious attempt at a custom airport, so feedback is wanted! Let's start with a general overview image. You will also see a large nature preserve near the airport - it was required in exchange for receiving federal funding for the airport's construction. Here is our main terminal and entrance. Long term parking facility: (Thanks Mike from SC4D for the AWESOME garages!) A couple night shots: Lastly, here is 8th Of July Road. This is basically a spur off the M2 to provide direct freeway access to the airport. It was named for the anniversary of the President's marriage. Note how the inbound lanes cross over the outbound lanes to provide easy curb-side access to the terminal.

My first real attempt at a custom airport. More images in my city journal!

I will be updating the CJ by tomorrow time permitting. I often use these "Show us your.........." threads to post teaser pics

An update on Thessaloniki.

Here is my attempt at a small urban reservoir.

I never ever ever EVER pre-order anything. I don't care how "rare" or "high demand" it may be, it's not worth sinking money into the pre-order gimmick - especially considering how over-priced games are these days and the higher frequency of "let downs".

Here is part of an expansion project I recently completed. More details in my CJ, this is the first practical use I have made of the DDRHW.