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Really Big Loop Ramps

Started by webny99, December 28, 2017, 03:45:22 PM

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webny99

Are there any massive loop ramps in your area? This one (I-390 Exit 19) is not notable for its size, but rather the fact that there are businesses inside of it. This one (Walden Ave. at I-90) also has an intense amount of stuff going on inside the loop.

Any other loop ramps that either form extremely large loops, or have a lot going on inside of them?

Enough with the out-of-topic commentary! --sso


1995hoo

The HOV ramp at the Springfield Interchange. Bonus points for being a reversible ramp.

https://goo.gl/maps/RN4CPA4Ffiw
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triplemultiplex

Westbound WI 29 to southbound US 53 is pretty big.
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Throckmorton

Proceed with caution

jakeroot

#6
M6 / M69 junction near Coventry, England (~1110 ft diameter). One of many large loop ramps in the UK.

https://goo.gl/CfN1LM






Are we really counting folded diamond junctions (Parclo AB2)? I would think only Parclo A4/B4 junctions would apply for this, since those loops are completely standalone, and not part of a two-way section with slip lanes at the end of the ramp.

webny99

#7
QuoteAre we really counting folded diamond junctions (Parclo AB2)? I would think only Parclo A4/B4 junctions would apply for this, since those loops are completely standalone, and not part of a two-way section with slip lanes at the end of the ramp.

Any ramp that a] has one of the two features mentioned in the OP, and b] makes at least a 180 degree turn, qualifies, as far as I'm concerned. I will not prevent others from setting their own standards, but don't see what difference it makes if it is a folded diamond or not, if it is divided or not, etc.

csw

A few examples come to mind.....not necessarily "loops" but still abnormally long ramps..

I-64 at IL 1: https://goo.gl/maps/746jXrz5WFE2

I-70 at IN 63: https://goo.gl/maps/TgHZM9tNU3G2

I-65 at IN 38: https://goo.gl/maps/UR2FTAvZnuS2

slorydn1

#9
Sorry this is all I have around here:
https://www.google.com/maps/@35.093709,-77.0357362,306m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

It is possible, with a good handling car, to maintain 50+ all the way around that loop-I just wouldn't advise it though, unless you are into 30 seconds of constant G loading!

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jakeroot

#10
Quote from: webny99 on December 28, 2017, 09:17:11 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on December 28, 2017, 08:58:44 PM
Are we really counting folded diamond junctions (Parclo AB2)? I would think only Parclo A4/B4 junctions would apply for this, since those loops are completely standalone, and not part of a two-way section with slip lanes at the end of the ramp.

Any ramp that a] has one of the two features mentioned in the OP, and b] makes at least a 180 degree turn, qualifies, as far as I'm concerned. I will not prevent others from setting their own standards, but don't see what difference it makes if it is a folded diamond or not, if it is divided or not, etc.

If we're going to set our own standards, I'd like to see some sort of "average diameter" measurement considered for figuring out which loop is the largest.

For example, considering this loop...

Quote from: Throckmorton on December 28, 2017, 07:57:13 PM
Wyandotte County, KS   
   
I-435 and K32.   
   
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.0650518,-94.7917408,867m/data=!3m1!1e3

...the average diameter of the loop is 1053 feet (1655 N/S diameter and 452 E/W diameter). Loops with perfect circles need only be measured once, but loops with varying curves should be measured in various points to determine the average diameter.

I'm sure a better way of figuring out the largest loop is to figure out the square footage, but ain't nobody got time for that.

Beltway

Quote from: webny99 on December 28, 2017, 03:45:22 PM
Any other loop ramps that either form extremely large loops, or have a lot going on inside of them?

I-64 at the Busch Gardens interchange, this is a new interchange that was added about 2005.  The big loop ramp from WB I-64 to the connector highway to US-60, is comfortably drivable at 50 mph, and is 2 lanes wide.

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SSOWorld

https://www.google.com/maps/@44.5825955,-89.6125209,1346a,35y,39.01t/data=!3m1!1e3

Pretty large trumpet connecting two freeways - the size of the trumpet permits navigation at 45-55 mph on the loop ramp.
Scott O.

Not all who wander are lost...
Ah, the open skies, wind at my back, warm sun on my... wait, where the hell am I?!
As a matter of fact, I do own the road.
Raise your what?

Wisconsin - out-multiplexing your state since 1918.

Hurricane Rex

Not a loop for all ramps but I'd nominate I-39/I-55 in Normal, IL. It is a longer than usual ramp.

Also the I-5 southbound to I-205 northbound in Tualatin, OR is a mile long but it is also not a loop.
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Jmiles32

https://www.google.com/maps/@36.1360714,-83.2787342,852m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en&authuser=0
The recently rebuilt I-81 at US-25E(Exit 8) interchange definitly fits the OP's description, especially when compared to the original interchange.
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Brandon

#16
I-55 & Arsenal Road, near Elwood, IL.  Rather large so that trucks and easily enter I-55 north.

I-290 & York Road, Elmhurst, IL.  A pump station in the middle.

I-39/90 & Bus US-20, Rockford, IL.  Part of a maintenance facility in the middle.

I-65 & I-90, Gary, IN.  A rather large loop with toll facilities in the middle.

For shits and giggles, the other end of the scale for loop ramp size:
I-57 & IL-17, Kankakee, IL.
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SSOWorld

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.5267792,-74.2968014,1892a,35y,38.95t/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

Here is the NJ Turnpike to Garden State Parkway connection - quite elongated with the toll facility within.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.7023658,-86.2553223,1731a,35y,38.96t/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

Indiana toll road to N. Dixie Way in South Bend.  Not a loop ramp but a very long closed system access point on a toll road.
Scott O.

Not all who wander are lost...
Ah, the open skies, wind at my back, warm sun on my... wait, where the hell am I?!
As a matter of fact, I do own the road.
Raise your what?

Wisconsin - out-multiplexing your state since 1918.

Brandon

Quote from: SSOWorld on December 29, 2017, 11:34:47 AM
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.7023658,-86.2553223,1731a,35y,38.96t/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

Indiana toll road to N. Dixie Way in South Bend.  Not a loop ramp but a very long closed system access point on a toll road.

At one time, this would've been a loop ramp as well.  The current intersection at Bus US-31/IN-933/Michigan Road was a small trumpet as well.
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kurumi

CT 2/3 interchange, Glastonbury and East Hartford, CT. Driving the "inside loop" of the trumpet is about 0.8 miles long. If this were a perfectly circular trumpet loop, the radius would be about 600 feet.
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sparker

Large loops are pretty scarce in CA; most, even within freeway-to-freeway interchanges, max out at a radius that'll at best support 30 mph.  The one exception that I can think of is the trumpet loop from north I-15 to west CA 58 near Barstow, which is posted, IIRC, at 45 mph.

SectorZ


billtm

Quote from: jakeroot on December 28, 2017, 10:59:47 PM

I'm sure a better way of figuring out the largest loop is to figure out the square footage, but ain't nobody got time for that.

Using the distance measurement tool on Google Maps, you can get a good estimate of the square footage by tracing over the loop. I don't think that would take too much time would it? Though personally, I wouldn't want to measure the square footage of every single loop ramp in America in order to determine which one is the largest. :no:

index

#23
Quote from: webny99 on December 28, 2017, 03:45:22 PM

Any other loop ramps that either form extremely large loops, or have a lot going on inside of them?


A bit relevant, so I figured it could be put in this thread.

A type of interchange called the Pinavia (no real-world examples exist) is designed specifically so that the land in the center between its loop ramps can be used for businesses, parks, etc - they have a "lot going on" inside them. The loop ramps (or just very curvy and the whole thing looks like a loop) are also large.





As you can see in the above image, the center space is empty and can be utilized. I could see a large central rest stop being put there between a junction of two rural interstates.
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jakeroot

Quote from: index on December 30, 2017, 04:35:40 PM
A type of interchange called the Pinavia (no real-world examples exist) is designed specifically so that the land in the center between its loop ramps can be used for businesses, parks, etc - they have a "lot going on" inside them.

Unrelated, but I don't get the appeal of the Pinavia interchange...

- has left-side entrances (an obsolete idea), and
- the thru-traffic has to proceed through two curves, which can slow down traffic and create an unnecessary bottleneck.

Just built a turbine interchange. The turning movements proceed through a similar set of curves, but entrances are from the right-hand side, and through traffic doesn't have to go through curves. And why does stuff have to be built in the middle of the interchange? Why does that concept appeal to some people? Seems like a gigantic wall around the estate would make it difficult to reach.



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