AARoads Forum

National Boards => General Highway Talk => Topic started by: peterj920 on November 19, 2015, 10:19:01 PM

Title: U Ramps
Post by: peterj920 on November 19, 2015, 10:19:01 PM
In the Milwaukee, WI area, U ramps are being built so traffic entering the freeway can have a single right turn onto the freeway.  Traffic that would ordinarily have a left turn at a traditional diamond interchange would instead continue on a "U ramp" that turns 180 over the freeway for the desired direction of travel for the motorist.  I have google maps of the 2 interchanges with that design.  The first interchange is very new and doesn't have a streetview.  The second interchange does have streetview. 

I-41 and Watertown Plank Road
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0452756,-88.0361943,16z?hl=en

I-894/I-41/I-43 and Wis 241/27th St
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.9627082,-87.9491612,17z?hl=en

I haven't seen this ramp design anywhere else so I was wondering if anyone can show if others have been built elsewhere?
Title: Re: U Ramps
Post by: ET21 on November 20, 2015, 10:26:13 AM
Almost looks like a hybrid of major flyover ramps, just for local road exits. Cool concept
Title: Re: U Ramps
Post by: triplemultiplex on November 20, 2015, 10:35:04 AM
I will be the first to lament this interchange design choice by WisDOT.  Watertown Plank is so overbuilt, it is ridiculous.  A diverging diamond would have moved traffic almost as well for far cheaper.  Even a parclo B4 would have been more economical.
The one at 27th Street makes even less sense for the traffic volume.

These design choices made already expensive reconstruction projects even more expensive.  Somebody should have stood up to this kind of waste.

Some early concepts for I-43 and Brown Deer Road (now delayed) included one of these monstrosities.  Thankfully the DDI has won out.

WisDOT added one more of these U-ramps to WI 100 and I-94 recently as well; SB to EB.  This one at least made some sense as it allowed them more wiggle room for the approach to the Zoo Interchange.
Title: Re: U Ramps
Post by: Jardine on November 20, 2015, 11:46:38 AM
I blame the cheese.

:sombrero:
Title: Re: U Ramps
Post by: froggie on November 20, 2015, 02:58:45 PM
These aren't really U-turns in the traditional sense.  ET21 hit upon it but basically what they are is heavily modified semi-directional ramps.

And a number exist elsewhere.  I-91/US 5 outside Springfield, MA and I-395/VA 7 in Alexandria, VA are two I can think of offhand.
Title: Re: U Ramps
Post by: Henry on November 20, 2015, 03:07:15 PM
I-83/Northern Parkway in Baltimore is another:
https://www.google.com/maps/@39.3605034,-76.6492463,17z
Title: Re: U Ramps
Post by: jeffandnicole on November 20, 2015, 03:46:08 PM
The US 13 North to I-295 South ramp in New Castle, DE pretty much does this.
Title: Re: U Ramps
Post by: TheStranger on November 20, 2015, 04:40:11 PM
Arden Way at Business 80 & Route 160 in Sacramento:
https://goo.gl/maps/DhpP6wWApCC2

I-80 at West Grand Avenue in Oakland:
https://goo.gl/maps/bnSDzqcuMQ52
Title: Re: U Ramps
Post by: Mr_Northside on November 20, 2015, 06:07:29 PM
Assuming it satisfies the OP, the interchange between I-79 & PA-65 has to "U"'s.
https://goo.gl/maps/H377ZnTb1R42 (https://goo.gl/maps/H377ZnTb1R42)
Title: Re: U Ramps
Post by: Revive 755 on November 20, 2015, 08:11:15 PM
I-55 at Arsenal Road has one south of Joliet, IL:  Aerial photo. (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.3955238,-88.1866212,1631m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en)

I believe there is one planned for I-55 at Lorenzo Road as well, with or without the Illiana.
Title: Re: U Ramps
Post by: lordsutch on November 20, 2015, 08:20:45 PM
This seems to be the same idea: I-459 at US 280 southeast (southbound 565 to eastbound 280) of Birmingham: https://goo.gl/maps/QvHma8C21DN2
Title: Re: U Ramps
Post by: Brandon on November 21, 2015, 12:27:30 AM
Quote from: Revive 755 on November 20, 2015, 08:11:15 PM
I-55 at Arsenal Road has one south of Joliet, IL:  Aerial photo. (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.3955238,-88.1866212,1631m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en)

I believe there is one planned for I-55 at Lorenzo Road as well, with or without the Illiana.

That's more of a turbine-style interchange in practice.  The ramps there become the frontage road which becomes Arsenal/Manhattan Road.
Title: Re: U Ramps
Post by: cl94 on November 21, 2015, 11:08:47 PM
I-270 at US 40 (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9528463,-83.1197444,16.31z?hl=en) west of Columbus
Title: Re: U Ramps
Post by: Walleye2013 on November 24, 2015, 11:26:02 AM
US 35 at Warren St in Dayton has a left exit U-turn ramp https://www.google.com/maps/@39.7525181,-84.1873472,603m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.7525181,-84.1873472,603m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en)

US 35 at Smithville Rd, also in Dayton, has a U-turn ramp https://www.google.com/maps/@39.7498369,-84.1387764,603m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.7498369,-84.1387764,603m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en)

I-75 at Hopple St in Cincinnati also has a left exit U-turn ramp https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1389564,-84.5339978,608m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.1389564,-84.5339978,608m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en)