Best-Looking Freeway-to-Freeway Interchange

[wanderer2575]

In the obsolete-but-still-looks-cool category, with four left exits and four left entrances, I nominate I-94 and M-10 in downtown Detroit:
https://goo.gl/maps/zPQGEUWDW2p

And a variation, with a wrong-way crossover, at I-196 and US-131 in downtown Grand Rapids:
https://goo.gl/maps/gfsPcTDzVEk

[nexus73]

When I went to SoCal for the first time in June 1974, the I-10/I-15-US 395 (now I-215) interchange struck me as a beautiful interchange for connecting two major freeways. 

Rick

[mrcmc888]

The intersection of I-70 and I-695 in Baltimore.  It's very clean and aesthetically pleasing.

[Joe The Dragon]

I-88 and I-355 is so cool

[MCRoads]

I think that although it is a terrible design, the I-40/I-44 interchange on OCK looks really neat, as well as a perfectionists dream interchange.

[shadyjay]

The "stack" in Connecticut (I-84 Exit 39A with CT 9) I always thought looked cool on maps.  It's the only one of its type in New England and was built some 30 years before a motorist got a chance to travel it.   Still today, it's only half-used, but a really nice design and how two interstates should connect with each other (originally intended for I-84 and I-291).

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.7273377,-72.7703254,1571m/data=!3m1!1e3

[Brooks]

Another cool-looking interchange that was a terrible design is the I-20/59 and I-65 interchange in downtown Birmingham that they're about to fix.

[MCRoads]

Another cool-looking interchange that was a terrible design is the I-20/59 and I-65 interchange in downtown Birmingham that they're about to fix.

NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I like that one!

[Flint1979]

Another cool-looking interchange that was a terrible design is the I-20/59 and I-65 interchange in downtown Birmingham that they're about to fix.

Doesn't that one have a wrong way crossover like I-196 and US-31 in Grand Rapids, MI?

[LM117]

I-40/US 25 in Asheville looks like a penis

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.5586508,-82.5397129,797m/data=!3m1!1e3

Of course it would be in Asheville. Fuckin' hippies.

[LM117]

The I-795/US-70 Bypass interchange just north of Goldsboro, NC ain't too shabby.

https://goo.gl/maps/Dc3xLb36UMJ2

[TEG24601]

In the obsolete-but-still-looks-cool category, with four left exits and four left entrances, I nominate I-94 and M-10 in downtown Detroit:
https://goo.gl/maps/zPQGEUWDW2p

Nothing wrong with Left Exits.  They are awesome, especially freeway-to-freeway.


I for one love the I-696/M-10/US-24, being freeway-to-freeway-to-Mi Expressway it sort of counts -
https://goo.gl/maps/L14TzaFhyRE2


Then again the I-75/475 Interchange in Flint, MI is also quite nice -
https://goo.gl/maps/J4ALCuJJt2J2


I also might be biassed, as I have to drive this interchange frequently, but the I-5/405/SR 525 Interchange in Lynnwood, WA looks well... aside from metering the ramps between SB 525/NB 405 to I-5 -
https://goo.gl/maps/AsNHnsBECno

[Beltway]

In the obsolete-but-still-looks-cool category, with four left exits and four left entrances, I nominate I-94 and M-10 in downtown Detroit:
https://goo.gl/maps/zPQGEUWDW2p

Nothing wrong with Left Exits.  They are awesome, especially freeway-to-freeway.

Some of us recall a certain N.C. highway engineer on another online forum back about 10 years ago, who would have blown a fuse if he read a statement like that!   

[ftballfan]

I for one love the I-696/M-10/US-24, being freeway-to-freeway-to-Mi Expressway it sort of counts -
https://goo.gl/maps/L14TzaFhyRE2

Off-topic, but NWB M-10 is six lanes briefly through that interchange, making it the most lanes on any freeway in MI

[MCRoads]

In the obsolete-but-still-looks-cool category, with four left exits and four left entrances, I nominate I-94 and M-10 in downtown Detroit:
https://goo.gl/maps/zPQGEUWDW2p

Nothing wrong with Left Exits.  They are awesome, especially freeway-to-freeway.

Some of us recall a certain N.C. highway engineer on another online forum back about 10 years ago, who would have blown a fuse if he read a statement like that!   

Lol, there are still people on here like that! Check on the small highway projects thread for the OKC metro... there was an argument about it there.

[Rothman]

Well, there is quite a bit problematic about left exits.

[Beltway]

Well, there is quite a bit problematic about left exits.

I agree that on freeways they should be avoided and eliminated where possible.

He picked a fight with me in 2002 over an I-95 left exit that VDOT did not eliminate in a 1997 widening project.

I knew back then what was not easily postable via aerial photo in a newsgroup, that a huge landfill and creek were close to the highway, and that is why VDOT did not build a right-exiting semi-directional ramp, due to major environmental issues and uncertainly as to how far outside of the landfill itself the impacts extended --

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6838272,-77.2246716,2459m/data=!3m1!1e3

The large area just to the south is an unbuilt part of the landfill.

[Strider]

Well, there is quite a bit problematic about left exits.

I don't see how it is an issue, only if building a right-exiting semi-directional ramp is not possible due to development or any other things, but otherwise I agree with Beltway, it should be avoided and eliminated where it can be.

[Eth]

IMO, left exits aren't great, but are largely fine provided there's not much chance of traffic backing up onto the mainline. Left entrances are, I think, a worse problem. One that I use frequently, from the eastbound US 78 freeway onto I-285 north, can be troublesome because everyone tends to hit the brakes starting right after the merge as they all try to make their way to the right in order to use I-85.

On the original topic, the current I-285/GA 400 interchange (soon to be completely redone) has left entrances on both directions of 400, which isn't great, but looks pretty cool visually.

[US 89]

On the original topic, the current I-285/GA 400 interchange (soon to be completely redone) has left entrances on both directions of 400, which isn't great, but looks pretty cool visually.

Almost the exact same design is used on the I-15/I-215 interchange south of Salt Lake City. I like how it looks, but I'm not a fan of the left entrance from 15 south to 215 east, especially since both of the lanes end within a half mile. Also, a significant amount of traffic uses the next exit to State Street. Coming from southbound 15, getting to that exit requires 4 to 6 lane changes.

[1995hoo]

Going back to the original topic, I've always thought the interchange of 401 and Allen Road (freeway stub) in the Toronto area is neat-looking when seen from an aerial photo:

https://www.google.com/maps/@43.7308859,-79.446035,1760m/data=!3m1!1e3

Some of Toronto's other interchanges remind me a little of New Jersey in that you take a basic design and then just graft on whatever extra ramps you need to make it work.


In a similar vein to I-70 and I-695 near Baltimore, I think the junction of the M4 and the M5 near Bristol has a very clean look to it. (The junction of the M4 and the M25 Orbital near Heathrow suffers because it's off-center, or I guess I should say off-centre. The ramps cross off to one side of the M4 instead of right in the middle like this.)

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5528577,-2.5561036,1683m/data=!3m1!1e3

[Mark68]

The Orange Crush in Santa Ana & Orange, CA.

https://goo.gl/maps/RK5gyVaaWzs

Believe it or not, it's been IMPROVED since I was a kid.

[signalman]

Another cool-looking interchange that was a terrible design is the I-20/59 and I-65 interchange in downtown Birmingham that they're about to fix.

Doesn't that one have a wrong way crossover like I-196 and US-31 in Grand Rapids, MI?

Yes.  Well, actually only 20/59 WB/SB cris-crosses.  EB/NB remains straight, as does I-65.  It's been referred to as malfunction junction.

[seicer]

Going back to the original topic, I've always thought the interchange of 401 and Allen Road (freeway stub) in the Toronto area is neat-looking when seen from an aerial photo:

https://www.google.com/maps/@43.7308859,-79.446035,1760m/data=!3m1!1e3

Some of Toronto's other interchanges remind me a little of New Jersey in that you take a basic design and then just graft on whatever extra ramps you need to make it work.

Well, I would add that New Jersey seemingly added ramps willy-nilly over the years, so you ended up with things like:

* Hotel accessible from a NJ Turnpike ramp - and from US 46's mainline if you are quick: This is my go-to hotel when I am in the NYC area and all of the nav systems have trouble accessing the hotel. Sometimes, the system will just bypass the hotel and take me in a continuous loop; sometimes, it takes me in a long about way down the Turnpike, do a u-turn at a service plaza, and then back just so I can access the hotel from the Turnpike north ramp to US 46 east; other times, it takes me to some back streets in Ridgefield Park.

My parents have such a hard time with it but you get used to it - and then you just accept it. Somehow, it just works.

[architect77]

I-85/I-485 northern interchange

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.3479013,-80.7335401,1553m/data=!3m1!1e3

This is one of the first turbine interchanges in the US on Charlotte's I-485 at I-85. It requires more land but is much cheaper than flyovers/stacks. Earth is used to support roadway ramps for the most part.

This interchange on Raleigh's 540 Outerloop (Toll) is sure to be a doozy with construction starting soon. It must deal with I-40 and US70 (both major Beach routes [to different beaches] & 2 separate deep-water ports with all of Eastern NC heavily dependent upon).
interchange by Stephen Edwards, on Flickr