Worst Interstate/Toll Road/Freeway Transitions

[SteveG1988]

To get it started.... these are the ones that should either A: be a differnet type of interchange than they are or b: should not exist in the first place.

I-57 to I-55 in Sikeston MO. Yes i understand that it continues as a US route, but a 2Di to 2Di should not be done via cloverleaf ramps.

I-55 to I-55 in Memphis, when it goes onto the bridge. Nuff said, makes the ben franklin bridge situation look marvelous.

I-295 to I-295 via NJ42/I76

[Pete from Boston]

You didn't start with Breezewood? I mean, it all really works back from there (excepting such non-connections as 83 to 95, 78 to 478...).

[02 Park Ave]

New Jersey Turnpike to the I-195 westbound (Due to the tight curve, one can't go over 25 mph)

The I-195 westbound to the I-295 southbound (Similar tight curve and also one must then cross all of those exiting the I-295 southbound to get onto the I-195 eastbound)

[jeffandnicole]

To get it started.... these are the ones that should either A: be a differnet type of interchange than they are or b: should not exist in the first place.

I-295 to I-295 via NJ42/I76

At least they're working on this one, and in the meantime at least they finally separated 295 NB from 42/76.

More minor in nature, but I never cared for 95 thru the Blue Route/476 Interchange in PA.  Shame they can't provide more than 2 thru lanes for 95.

[myosh_tino]

I'll nominate the I-880/US 101 interchange in San Jose (http://goo.gl/maps/V58FF).

Both are major freeways but the interchange is a cloverleaf... ...and, alas, there are NO planned improvements. 

[1995hoo]

I have never liked the interchange between I-77 and I-85 in Charlotte. Aside from two cloverleaf-style loop ramps, the other ramps involve somewhat sharp curves, especially the ramp from southbound I-85 to southbound I-77.

I also dislike the interchange of I-83, I-283, and US-322 east of Harrisburg. I think part of it is the use of one-lane ramps for the thru movement on I-83 and for the connections to I-283. The only multiple-lane thru connection there is between US-322 and I-83. I suppose from my point of view that ought to be fine because 99% of my trips through that interchange are en route to Hershey Bears hockey games, meaning I use US-322 to Hershey, but for some reason it always feels like a chaotic little area. Last time we went up there I took I-283 instead for clinch purposes (connecting west via the Turnpike) and I liked it better than that stretch of I-83.

Two of the ones I would have listed in the past (I-66/I-495 in Virginia and I-95/I-695 in Maryland, both of which were plagued with left-side entrances and exits) have been rebuilt and I no longer think they're all that bad.

[Brandon]

The Circle Interchange (I-290 & I-90/94) in Chicago.

I-294 north to I-290 west in Hillside, IL.  I hate that fucking loop ramp.

The Big X (I-74, I-80, I-280) near the Quad Cities.  Whoever thought routing 2 different 2dis through cloverleaf ramps was a good idea!?!

[cl94]

Breezewood
I-678/I-495 to/from the east
Wantagh Parkway to Northern State Pkwy EB (and reverse)
I-78/I-476
I-70/SR 315 in Columbus, OH
I-95 to/from the Hutch in the Bronx
Cross County Parkway interchanges with I-87 and Sprain Brook Parkway

[NE2]

I-H1 to I-10

[Bickendan]

CA 57 South to CA 60 East and vice versa.

[roadman65]

No one mentioned Exit 24 in Albany, NY where you have to do a lot of curved ramp traveling to stay on I-87 N Bound.

[vdeane]

I-95 to I-276/I-95

[hotdogPi]

but a 2Di to 2Di should not be done via cloverleaf ramps.

93/95 (in Reading) is a full cloverleaf, and is fine (except for the traffic, but that's due to the number of lanes decreasing).


As for bad freeway transitions, sometimes a sudden end onto a surface road is a problem (MA 128's rotary, Lowell Connector's northern end)

[dfwmapper]

I-35E northbound to I-635 westbound in Dallas. A left-exiting, right-turning loop .

[Alex4897]

I also dislike the interchange of I-83, I-283, and US-322 east of Harrisburg. I think part of it is the use of one-lane ramps for the thru movement on I-83 and for the connections to I-283. The only multiple-lane thru connection there is between US-322 and I-83.

Seconded.

I've been through that interchange twice en route to Niagara Falls and for whatever reason we ended up passing through during rush hour.  This interchange is so under-capacity and awkwardly designed that it's hard to pick out any kind of thru route.

[PHLBOS]

but a 2Di to 2Di should not be done via cloverleaf ramps.

93/95 (in Reading) is a full cloverleaf, and is fine (except for the traffic, but that's due to the number of lanes decreasing).

Actually, the lane drop along I-95, north of I-93 occurs at the next cloverleaf interchange (MA 28) and the traffic north(east) of I-93 usually loosens up.  Of course & as many here already know, that cloverleaf wasn't a 2di-2di junction when it was first constructed.

[SteveG1988]

Breezewood is too easy to nominate, and it actually works well enough despite the traffic light. it isn't outright dangerous like some of the others we can nominate.

One i never liked, 295/US40/Turnpike on the NJ side of the delaware memorial bridge, i understand that 295 was an addition to the area, but it could have been handled better.

[doorknob60]

CA 57 South to CA 60 East and vice versa.

Yeah you're not wrong, but it almost all situations, you'd take CA-71 to make that connection instead.

[cl94]

I-71/I-75 in Cincinnati can be a nightmare. Same for I-90/SR 2 at Dead Man's Curve and I-71/I-90/I-490, both in Cleveland.

[bassoon1986]

I-57 to I-55 in Sikeston MO. Yes i understand that it continues as a US route, but a 2Di to 2Di should not be done via cloverleaf ramps.

So there aren't that many still around? I guess Louisiana still has a good chunk, then. All 2di to 2di cloverleafs too:
I-10/ I-49
I-10/ I-55

and part of the 10/12/59 interchange. 59 to 10 East and 12 to 59 are.

Others I'd add to the list:
I-30 and Loop 12 (west side of loop 12) in Dallas, TX

[Darkchylde]

I-70 West to I-70 West, northeast corner of the Kansas City, MO downtown loop. Also, I-70 West to I-35 South, I-35 in both directions to I-670 East, I-670 West to I-35 (both directions). Just too cramped all around!

I'm also not a fan of the I-10 East to I-12 West and I-12 East to I-59 North ramps near Slidell, LA. The first is a rough, poorly angled left exiting flyover, while the second is a loop ramp that's just a bit too tight.

[Brandon]

I-57 to I-55 in Sikeston MO. Yes i understand that it continues as a US route, but a 2Di to 2Di should not be done via cloverleaf ramps.

So there aren't that many still around? I guess Louisiana still has a good chunk, then. All 2di to 2di cloverleafs too:
I-10/ I-49
I-10/ I-55

and part of the 10/12/59 interchange. 59 to 10 East and 12 to 59 are.

Others I'd add to the list:
I-30 and Loop 12 (west side of loop 12) in Dallas, TX

Illinois has a shitload.

I-55/I-80
I-39/I-80
I-39/I-88
I-80/I-74 with I-280 - very infamous as seen above
I-80/I-88
I-55/I-72 east side of Springfield
I-72/US-67
I-74/US-34
I-90/I-290 with IL-53

With variations including one flyover:
I-74/I-474 west side of Peoria
I-55/I-72 south side of Springfield
I-55/I-70 with I-270
I-255/I-270 with IL-255
I-55/IL-171

[1995hoo]

I also dislike the interchange of I-83, I-283, and US-322 east of Harrisburg. I think part of it is the use of one-lane ramps for the thru movement on I-83 and for the connections to I-283. The only multiple-lane thru connection there is between US-322 and I-83.

Seconded.

I've been through that interchange twice en route to Niagara Falls and for whatever reason we ended up passing through during rush hour.  This interchange is so under-capacity and awkwardly designed that it's hard to pick out any kind of thru route.

If I'm passing all the way through the area, I prefer to use 581 around the west side of the city instead of passing through the various substandard areas along I-83 there. Much better road. But usually if I'm up there it's to go to a Bears game.

[cl94]

..but a 2Di to 2Di should not be done via cloverleaf ramps...

Sure it can, if traffic volumes don't warrant more. Let's see...

I-84 at NY 17/I-86 (whenever they uncover the signs)
I-79 at I-90
I-79 at I-80

As people have already said, there are quite a few more that I won't even bother to list. If we include interchanges with one flyover and 3 conflicting loop ramps, that number goes up immensely. Most interchanges just don't have enough volume on adjacent movements to warrant something that doesn't involve weaving, especially if you're in a relatively rural area.

[theline]

Indiana Toll Road at the Borman Expressway, Lake Station, Indiana. The intersection of 3 mainline interstates, plus one US route and one state route. It's a modified double trumpet that was designed to accommodate a toll booth that's been gone for decades. I recall that it's been discussed in either the Redesigning Interchanges thread or perhaps the Great Lakes board, though I can't find the discussion. This transition stinks.

It could also be mentioned that WB ITR to WB Borman ramp, which carries the I-80 mainline, has been closed for months, forcing I-80 traffic to continue on the ITR to the I-65 exit, which is ugly also. A single lane of traffic snakes through a series of ramps. A replacement ramp at the Borman has been promised. I'll believe it when I see it, considering the bankruptcy of the concessionaire.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5862397,-87.2735991,14z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x8811be093239b9b1:0x4b38c8094628ea42?hl=en