I was driving down US-258 here in Hampton earlier today, and overnight they repaved and marked an intersection with VA-134, even adding another turn lane. So now there are 3 turn lanes! 3!
Has anyone else observed more than this anywhere? I can't think of any road with enough traffic to warrant it.
You mean like 3 lanes to the left?
Something like this:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi516.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fu326%2Fmblaak90%2FWegenforum%2FIMG_9376-kopie.jpg&hash=f21c1c537abaf51c43cabc7313cb7e560dbf66fc)
Yeah, like that. 3 left turn lanes at a signal. Never seen anything like it before.
I think it's undesired because the cars on the center lane might get "squished". Haven't seen it much in Europe.
There's a triple left turn lane in Madison, WI where US 18/US 151 turn left off of US 12/18
There are quite a few triple turn lanes in and around the Denver Metro area, mainly in the Southeast area of the city (Aurora, Centennial, etc)
There isn't many that I have seen but we have 10+ intersections in Thunder Bay with 2 turning lanes.
:offtopic:
Only 2 of them have an AADT though, both on the Thunder Bay Expressway (not the intersections visible in my sig image).
The AADT is about 20,000 cars each day on the Expressway, that means around 40,000 (possibly 50,000) cars travel on the intersections per day.
/ :offtopic:
We have at least 2 triple left turns in Hamburg. At one, the problem is that at the end of the turn there are a total of lanes, two left turns and 3 right turns. Technically, the 3 left-turns are marked to become the 3 right-turns at the next traffic lights, but all too often the drivers in the middle lane interpret things as if the left lane becomes the next 2 left turn lanes, and the middle lane become two right-turn lanes, causing quite a few near-hits. So at least in this case, it's not center turn lane being squished, but rather center turn lane expanding.
Here's the intersection in question, the 3 left turn lanes are on the street coming straight down:
http://maps.live.de/LiveSearch.LocalLive?cp=53.556734349585994~10.026263594627387&style=a&lvl=18&dir=0&tilt=-90&alt=-1000 (http://maps.live.de/LiveSearch.LocalLive?cp=53.556734349585994~10.026263594627387&style=a&lvl=18&dir=0&tilt=-90&alt=-1000)
At the other, things tend to run smoothly, though that's mostly because no one really uses the left lane. (If I were to be technical, including the bus lane it would actually be a quadruple left turn ;) ). Intersection in question, coming from the right:
http://maps.live.de/LiveSearch.LocalLive?cp=53.60346082072432~9.962416291236886&style=a&lvl=19&dir=0&tilt=-90&alt=-1000 (http://maps.live.de/LiveSearch.LocalLive?cp=53.60346082072432~9.962416291236886&style=a&lvl=19&dir=0&tilt=-90&alt=-1000)
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=qm5sws67xv0w&style=o&lvl=2&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=35731966&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1 (http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=qm5sws67xv0w&style=o&lvl=2&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=35731966&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1)
This is a view of one of the locations in the Denver metro I was speaking about. It's at the intersection of Parker Rd & Quincy Ave in Aurora/Centennial. There are others, but I haven't found them yet.
There are (were?) two around St. Louis. The first one, and first in the state of Missouri was at the EB I-270 ramp to McDonnell Blvd:
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=qfwkv27g0tjz&style=b&lvl=2&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=7914407&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1 (http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=qfwkv27g0tjz&style=b&lvl=2&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=7914407&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1)
The second is on WB Eager at Brentwood. I recall seeing this one downsized to two in some of the US 40 rebuild plans, so it might not exist anymore.
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=qf488z7g41vt&style=b&lvl=2&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=20463889&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1 (http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=qf488z7g41vt&style=b&lvl=2&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=20463889&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1)
I also recall reading somewhere that triple turn lanes were a sign a of a defective road system, but can't remember the source.
The only ones that I've seen are in Cobb County, GA: Paces Ferry Road @ Cumberland Bouleard, and Atlanta Road @ Cumberland Boulevard.
Be well,
Bryant
Even two turn lanes kind of scare me sometimes. Don't think I've ever seen 3 though.
What kills me about multiple turn lanes in one direction is that people have poor lane discipline. They change lanes in the middle of the intersection. It's not that hard, stay in your lane!
Be well,
Bryant
hmm.... I guess they do do this elsewhere.
And I've noticed when I make a left turn at a complex intersection nobody can ever manage to stay in their own lane, so the only time I've been through that intersection since they added the lane was in the far left one. I don't think I would survive the center lane.
The turning movement from Veterans Memorial Blvd. WB to Clearview Parkway SB, Metairie, LA. Installed not so many years back; this turn was murder before the improvement.
This intersection is adjacent to a shopping mall and sits in the heart of the asphalt laden retail strip that is Veterans Blvd.
There are 3 left turn lanes in Coastal GA as well - it is coming off the Torras Causeway from St. Simons Island onto US 17 South in Brunswick.
What I dont understand is the straight lanes before the left turn lanes at intersections in Atlanta - I guess to handle heavy traffic going onto the interstates...
^^ Yeah, so you won't have folks blocking the junction trying to turn left. Atlanta drivers are good at this, "blocking the box."
Be well,
Bryant
There are 3 lane turn lanes around the New Orleans area. I thought at least two was common.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fileden.com%2Ffiles%2F2008%2F10%2F16%2F2145144%2FNO1.jpg&hash=c8d719bda2bdf7b03e6a7181b417d48abfa339fc)
Meh... but that setup is different from what I was talking about. There appears to be a slip lane-ish setup there... and not just 3 turn lanes at a standard complex interchange. I wish Google would go ahead and take a new satellite image... but it has only been about a week.
It's 3 turn lanes at a light...
I know... ;-) I'm just saying, it's a different layout.
Here are some views of weird intersection turn lanes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=limq5BlxDno (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=limq5BlxDno)
Be well,
Bryant
Quote from: NOLANOLA504 on January 31, 2009, 11:58:37 AM
There are 3 lane turn lanes around the New Orleans area. I thought at least two was common.
*image snipped*
Looks almost like an at-grade SPUI.
Quote from: Darkangel on February 14, 2009, 05:29:16 PM
Quote from: NOLANOLA504 on January 31, 2009, 11:58:37 AM
There are 3 lane turn lanes around the New Orleans area. I thought at least two was common.
*image snipped*
Looks almost like an at-grade SPUI.
I thought the same exact thing!
Anyway, the most turn lanes I can recall is two.
Quote from: froggie on February 14, 2009, 05:25:14 PM
QuoteYeah, like that. 3 left turn lanes at a signal. Never seen anything like it before.
There's a couple on the Southside, at least one for a few years. One that comes to mind is Independence and Columbus near Virginia Beach Town Center.
Hmm... trying to remember from last time I drove through there... yeah, WB Columbus onto SB Independence....
I have no idea whose idea it was but in downtown Miami at least a few of the one way streets(definitely just south of I-395 and the Macarthur Causeway) headed east end at US 1/Biscayne Blvd with three left turn lanes for US 1 North.
The opposite extreme, in a way:
Cold Spring Rd at High Ridge Rd in Stamford, CT (http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=41.072383,-73.549116&spn=0.001783,0.006866&t=h&z=18). There are two lanes at the light. The left lane is a left turn only lane. The right lane is for left turns, going straight, or right turns. The arrow painted on the pavement points all three ways. :spin:
Still, it makes sense when you consider that at least 95% of the traffic that reaches this intersection makes a left turn. Straight only takes you into the parking lot for Radio Shack, and right duplicates a movement which would make much more sense to do at the preceding intersection, with Long Ridge Road (look at the overall configuration in the area and you'll see why). This area is known locally as "Bull's Head", likely due to how the shape of the roads in the area sort of resemble the head of a bull when viewed from the air or on a map.
What's weird about that Duke? I see that all the time around here. Usually when you can turn any direction they leave the pavement blank, but sometimes they do paint the 3-way arrow. And the lane configuration is a common one coming out of shopping centers here...
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on February 16, 2009, 12:01:20 AM
What's weird about that Duke? I see that all the time around here. Usually when you can turn any direction they leave the pavement blank, but sometimes they do paint the 3-way arrow. And the lane configuration is a common one coming out of shopping centers here...
Hmm... well, it's the only place I've ever seen a three way arrow painted on the pavement, and it's the only place I've ever seen a lane that will let you turn either direction or go straight at an intersection with more than one lane.
Maybe it's more common elsewhere. Very unusual around here, though.
Let me name a few examples you can google earth.
1) willow oaks blvd. @ VA-169, fox hill road. The left lane is left turn only, right lane 3-way.
2) old buckroe rd./VA-169 @ pembroke ave./VA-310
There are more...
There's quite a few triple left turn lanes in Nevada:
- A Reno example is the southbound left turn from S. Virginia St to westbound S. McCarran Blvd.
- Las Vegas area examples abound, with the most notable examples being several hotel/casino entrances on Las Vegas Blvd/The Strip. There are a few at freeway on/off ramps also (mostly I-15 interchanges).
Another peculiar turn lane situation seen in Nevada is dual right turn lanes. Again, most notable examples are in Las Vegas along the Strip and at freeway off ramps, but they do exist elsewhere.
DTP, I photographed your three left-turn lane signal Saturday(from Armistead Ave SB at US 258/W Mercury Blvd and VA 134) (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi622.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ftt304%2F24DIDNOTWIN%2FNARMISTEADAVEATUS258ANDVA134.jpg&hash=4af5b8f5489ba5268dd9d12a6e6d4c8aa2fffd50)
Thanks for that... I really do wish I had my own camera... oh well, birthday's coming up. ;-)
And do you mind telling me what your car looks like? :-P I probably saw you driving around saturday and am wondering if I did.
Its a green '99 Mercury Mystique
Mmm... doesn't really stand out then. Nevermind. Though if you see a silver '03 Honda Element next time you're down here, wave! :wave: