Interchange U-Turns that are Intentional/By Design (NOT Texas U-Turns)

[webny99]

I'm looking for examples of two different applications of U-turns at a freeway interchange - but NOT including the most obvious form, the Texas U-turn.

1) Cases where a U-turn (preferably at a signalized intersection) is the officially signed/designated way for traffic to enter a freeway. The example that I was thinking of is actually a jughandle, where both I-287 SB to US 202/206 SB AND US 202/206 NB to I-287 SB are facilitated by using the jughandle to make a U-turn movement, due to the two missing ramps at the interchange itself. What other examples are there of a regular or de facto u-turn being signed for a freeway entrance or exit movement?

2) Cases where there is NO parallel service or frontage road (and of course, no Texas U-turn), but where you would still get on the freeway going the wrong way just to make a U-turn at the next exit to access the freeway in the other direction. Classic example shown here, used to get from Highland Ave to NY 590 NB, this is usually a faster alternate to head north the slog that is Winton/Blossom.

(Edited for clarity)

[1995hoo]

Not sure if this is what you have in mind because it's not really signed as a U-turn, but the ramp pretty clearly makes one. NB NJ-17 to SB I-287 and NB I-287 to SB NJ-17 both come to mind (both movements use the same U-turn ramp immediately south of the state line).

[hotdogPi]

US 1 in Peabody with an inexplicable traffic light. (This one is a Jersey freeway.)

Whenever the MA 28 → MA 213 eastbound ramp is closed (typically due to construction), it's better to go west on 213 and then loop around.

[wanderer2575]

Ebd Bristol Road to nbd I-75/US-23 in Flint, MI requires using the roundabout east of the interchange to make a U-turn and then using the ramp from wbd Bristol Road.

Signage

[OCGuy81]

Would something like this qualify?  It's Interstate 41/US 45 at Watertown Plank Rd in Wauwatosa, WI.

https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0452343,-88.0329262,805m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu

[kirbykart]

Niagara Pkwy at the Fort Niagara Spur has a missing ramp, so the movement is covered by this u-turn

US-20 at I-79 in Erie, PA - again, there are some missing ramps so a u-turn is used https://maps.app.goo.gl/UuVKeUg6vjhaEsZE6

[jeffandnicole]

US 1 North near Princeton, NJ

GSV: https://maps.app.goo.gl/RSweKeN7CcEqTB2LA

Aerial: https://maps.app.goo.gl/msBmFfPYMxVPTPbA8

[webny99]

Not sure if this is what you have in mind because it's not really signed as a U-turn, but the ramp pretty clearly makes one. NB NJ-17 to SB I-287 and NB I-287 to SB NJ-17 both come to mind (both movements use the same U-turn ramp immediately south of the state line).

Niagara Pkwy at the Fort Niagara Spur has a missing ramp, so the movement is covered by this u-turn

US 1 North near Princeton, NJ

GSV: https://maps.app.goo.gl/RSweKeN7CcEqTB2LA

Aerial: https://maps.app.goo.gl/msBmFfPYMxVPTPbA8

All interesting examples, but not exactly what I had in mind. I'm primarily looking for U-turns that occur on a surface street, especially where signage actually directs traffic to make a U-turn at a signalized intersection.

[webny99]

US 1 in Peabody with an inexplicable traffic light. (This one is a Jersey freeway.)

What location specifically are you referring to here?

Whenever the MA 28 → MA 213 eastbound ramp is closed (typically due to construction), it's better to go west on 213 and then loop around.

This one is another good example of #2 in the OP.

[webny99]

Ebd Bristol Road to nbd I-75/US-23 in Flint, MI requires using the roundabout east of the interchange to make a U-turn and then using the ramp from wbd Bristol Road.

Signage

That is a good one.

It looks like it was redesigned specifically to combine the two ramps into one, which would explain the choice of a roundabout.

US-20 at I-79 in Erie, PA - again, there are some missing ramps so a u-turn is used https://maps.app.goo.gl/UuVKeUg6vjhaEsZE6

This is technically a Michigan left, not a U-turn. But otherwise, it's very much in the same vein of what I'm looking for here.

[roadman65]

US 45W/51 NB just south of of the KY Border.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ud4jPKa37TTK5pSt8
U turn to return to the SB Kenn Tenn Road exit.

Then I-287 NB in Mahwah, NJ has a u turn ramp to the SB lanes for NJ 17.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/FLtqiUrN8jfxzCvG7

[webny99]

Would something like this qualify?  It's Interstate 41/US 45 at Watertown Plank Rd in Wauwatosa, WI.

https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0452343,-88.0329262,805m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu

I am not seeing the U-turn in this one.

[1995hoo]

....

Then I-287 NB in Mahwah, NJ has a u turn ramp to the SB lanes for NJ 17.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/FLtqiUrN8jfxzCvG7

Really? Who woulda thunk it?

Not sure if this is what you have in mind because it's not really signed as a U-turn, but the ramp pretty clearly makes one. NB NJ-17 to SB I-287 and NB I-287 to SB NJ-17 both come to mind (both movements use the same U-turn ramp immediately south of the state line).

[hotdogPi]

US 1 in Peabody with an inexplicable traffic light. (This one is a Jersey freeway.)

What location specifically are you referring to here?

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.5290989,-70.9933762,18.33z?entry=ttu

[roadman65]

....

Then I-287 NB in Mahwah, NJ has a u turn ramp to the SB lanes for NJ 17.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/FLtqiUrN8jfxzCvG7

Really? Who woulda thunk it?

Not sure if this is what you have in mind because it's not really signed as a U-turn, but the ramp pretty clearly makes one. NB NJ-17 to SB I-287 and NB I-287 to SB NJ-17 both come to mind (both movements use the same U-turn ramp immediately south of the state line).

Ha ha. I didn't see it. I overlooked it when checking out posts.

Just don't tell Rothman or VDane 😂

[webny99]

US 1 in Peabody with an inexplicable traffic light. (This one is a Jersey freeway.)

What location specifically are you referring to here?

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.5290989,-70.9933762,18.33z?entry=ttu

Interestingly, US 1 NB also has its own ramps to I-95/128. Does this exist solely for the group of businesses north of the ramps?

[1995hoo]

How about the following in New Jersey? These are one of the most extreme examples I can think of where you have to get on multiple roads going the wrong way to get where you want to go.

If you want to go from eastbound NJ-24 to the northbound JFK Parkway, the signs expressly tell you to exit NJ-24 and then use two loop ramps to make what's usually called a cloverleaf U-turn: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/40.741693,-74.3706448/40.740032,-74.368569/@40.7391071,-74.3721427,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!4m1!3e0?entry=ttu

But it gets more fun if you want to go from eastbound NJ-24 to westbound NJ-124: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/40.741693,-74.3706448/40.7393057,-74.3730198/@40.7390032,-74.3726224,16.42z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e0?entry=ttu  I understand the reason for this convoluted routing to be that an unbuilt road northwest of there (for which you can see ghost ramps on Google satellite view) would have filled in the missing move.

[jmacswimmer]

At the I-78/PA 309/PA 145 interchange south of Allentown (exit 60), the signed movement for PA 145 SB -> I-78 EB is to continue thru the interchange onto PA 309 SB, make a jughandle u-turn at the Saucon Valley Rd/Center Valley Parkway intersection, and then use the ramp to I-78 EB from PA 309 NB.

[OCGuy81]

Would something like this qualify?  It's Interstate 41/US 45 at Watertown Plank Rd in Wauwatosa, WI.

https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0452343,-88.0329262,805m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu

I am not seeing the U-turn in this one.

I was looking at the onramps to 41.  You basically head south before taking a U shaped turn to get onto the NB lanes

[fillup420]

In Charlotte NC, NC 16 exits from I-277 here, Then requires a U-turn sort of maneuver, although it is not very well signed. This is the only indication that NC 16 makes a turn, but doesn't do a good job of telling that its a very hard left turn, or a U-turn IMO.

[CoreySamson]

Would something like this qualify?  It's Interstate 41/US 45 at Watertown Plank Rd in Wauwatosa, WI.

https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0452343,-88.0329262,805m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu

That is an absolutely beautiful interchange!

[jp the roadgeek]

Exit 9B on I-295 North is specifically for I-295 South.  The U-Turn is a result of utilizing a partially built interchange for the cancelled I-84 from Hartford to Providence.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/W6azLGc31Fp8cLXQA

And then you have a U-Turn northbound on the Palisades Parkway for access to Exit 3 on the southbound side

https://maps.app.goo.gl/tad1J4x6JQWYFkFT9

[webny99]

How about the following in New Jersey? These are one of the most extreme examples I can think of where you have to get on multiple roads going the wrong way to get where you want to go.

If you want to go from eastbound NJ-24 to the northbound JFK Parkway, the signs expressly tell you to exit NJ-24 and then use two loop ramps to make what's usually called a cloverleaf U-turn: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/40.741693,-74.3706448/40.740032,-74.368569/@40.7391071,-74.3721427,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!4m1!3e0?entry=ttu

But it gets more fun if you want to go from eastbound NJ-24 to westbound NJ-124: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/40.741693,-74.3706448/40.7393057,-74.3730198/@40.7390032,-74.3726224,16.42z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e0?entry=ttu  I understand the reason for this convoluted routing to be that an unbuilt road northwest of there (for which you can see ghost ramps on Google satellite view) would have filled in the missing move.

What's particularly interesting about the second example is that it's a right turn movement that's missing. That seems unusual, usually a missing movement would be the left turn movement, if anything.

Also hilarious that one of Google's recommended options for that movement involves a full four loop ramps - the same two shown in your first example, followed by a loop back to NJ 24 WB, and finally, a loop onto NJ 124 WB. I recall taking three loops as a posted detour at US 14 and I-35 in Owatonna, MN, a few years ago, but don't think I've ever seen a route that reasonably uses a full quartet of loops!

[webny99]

US 1 in Peabody with an inexplicable traffic light. (This one is a Jersey freeway.)

What location specifically are you referring to here?

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.5290989,-70.9933762,18.33z?entry=ttu

Interestingly, US 1 NB also has its own ramps to I-95/128. Does this exist solely for the group of businesses north of the ramps?

Nevermind, I see now that it also serves Dearborn Rd, which connects to several other local roads. With that in mind, removing the jughandle isn't really an option. Although I agree the traffic light is inexplicable, I'm not sure what could reasonably replace it aside from an overpass that loops over US 1 or a partial interchange at Forest St/Winona St.

[webny99]

In Charlotte NC, NC 16 exits from I-277 here, Then requires a U-turn sort of maneuver, although it is not very well signed. This is the only indication that NC 16 makes a turn, but doesn't do a good job of telling that its a very hard left turn, or a U-turn IMO.

I was about to reply "isn't that just a standard 90 degree turn?", then realized what you were actually talking about. Wow! That is an egregious turn to begin with (agree with calling it a U-turn), and egregiously poorly-signed on top of it. Definitely something any potential clincher of NC 16 should be aware of, or they'd certainly be headed down E 4th St into the heart of Charlotte for who knows how long before wondering what happened to NC 16.