What was the most elaborate freeway/road intersection you seen?
The Route 273/896 crossover in Newark, Delaware.
Probably the Golden Glades Interchange north of Miami for interchanges and the Magic Roundabout in Swindon for intersections. The Magic Roundabout is pretty simple in principle, but to American eyes it looks complex.
Quote from: 1995hoo on December 03, 2016, 02:19:04 PM
but to American eyes it looks complex.
I looked and it looks pretty simple to me and a few others.
I'm going with the High Five in Dallas. Not necessarily the most complex but definitely elaborate
The first one I thought of is I-81/I-690 in downtown Syracuse (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0520165,-76.1475612,18z/data=!3m1!1e3). It isn't complex, but I think it's clever how they squeezed in all the ramps. It will be interesting to see what it looks like after the I-81 viaduct is rebuilt or bypassed.
A bit to the north, there's another one I think is clever at Hiawatha Boulevard/NY 370/Destiny USA Drive/Old Liverpool Road/Buckley Road (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0754965,-76.1726989,17z/data=!3m1!1e3). The bridge to the southwest was originally I-81. When the curve on I-81 was straightened, they used the old bridge as a sort of frontage road.
The I-81/I-476/US 6/US 11 interchange in Clarks Summit (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4811682,-75.6831421,17z/data=!3m1!1e3) is the only triple trumpet I've ever seen.
When I first saw the I-81/I-84/US 6 interchange in Scranton (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.4215327,-75.6069459,17z/data=!3m1!1e3), I thought it was crazy, and I still do.
On my way back from Atlanta in January 2015, I went through two "famous" ones. The first was the I-95/I-395/I-495 Springfield interchange (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.7911822,-77.1755017,17z/data=!3m1!1e3). In Harrisburg, we took I-83 north through the I-83/I-283/US 322 interchange (https://www.google.com/maps/@40.25514,-76.8140043,17z/data=!3m1!1e3). I never realized how tight that curve actually is. We were in the left lane with a tractor-trailer on the right, and we had to veer onto the left shoulder since the truck was taking the curve so tight. In 2007 or 2008, I went on the ramp from I-83 north to I-283 south, so I didn't get to experience the curve until my Atlanta trip.
The Orange Crush is the most elaborate I can think of within the US, particularly since they added the HOV ramps: https://www.google.com/maps/@33.7804191,-117.8801821,16.05z
Then there's the 25/76/270/36 complex in northern Denver: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8216053,-104.9735603,14.55z
In Chicagoland:
I-90/94/55/Cermak Ave, locally known as the Chinatown Feeder
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8458733,-87.6362898,14.75z (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8458733,-87.6362898,14.75z)
I-294/90/190/River Road
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9878544,-87.862433,14.5z (https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9878544,-87.862433,14.5z)
Quote from: coatimundi on December 03, 2016, 05:35:24 PM
Then there's the 25/76/270/36 complex in northern Denver: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8216053,-104.9735603,14.55z
This is my other choice
Springfield, Virginia junction (https://www.google.com/maps/place/38%C2%B047'06.5%22N+77%C2%B010'41.5%22W/@38.785133,-77.1957015,14z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d38.785133!4d-77.178192) of I-95; I-395; and I-495 - and express lanes for I-95/I-395 and I-495 west of the interchange.
Honorable mention to the Judge Harry Pregerson Interchange (https://www.google.com/maps/place/33%C2%B055'43.2%22N+118%C2%B016'51.6%22W/@33.928664,-118.2897547,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d33.928664!4d-118.281?hl=en) of I-110 and I-105 in Los Angeles.
My vote is for the I-96/I-275/I-696/M-5 interchange in Novi, MI. The westbound I-96 transition ramp alone is around 2.5 miles.
The East LA interchange and the MacArthur Maze in Oakland are the most incredible interchanges in California.
Quote from: bing101 on December 05, 2016, 04:18:50 PM
MacArthur Maze in Oakland are the most incredible interchanges in California.
Anywhere around SF is complex.
Woodbridge, NJ around its Fords section. Its called the Tangle by some, but if you count the NJ Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, NJ 440, and US 9 all together, it makes one giant interchange.
The part of it that is most elaborate is where NJ 440 meets both US 9 and the Parkway with Smith Street and former Industrial Avenue as many ramps are concentrated in that parcel that go all ways. In fact Smith Street is part of a long ramp that connects former Industrial Avenue to US 9 North and NJ 440 East.
The Spaghetti Interchange in Louisvile. It's probably more free flowing now that all the construction is done.
Locally, here in KC, I'd say the Grandview Triangle.
Quote from: mvak36 on December 06, 2016, 09:14:10 AM
The Spaghetti Interchange in Louisvile. It's probably more free flowing now that all the construction is done.
Locally, here in KC, I'd say the Grandview Triangle.
It sucks they took out the left side driving on I-470/ US 50 as that made that more elaborate.
I'll submit the compactly elaborate US 101 / Cesar Chavez / Potrero interchange in San Francisco: https://goo.gl/maps/gEUF3SnBCzC2
The US 101 SB exit ramp splits into 4 ramps, for NB, WB, SB and EB Potrero / CC, which are grade separated from each other.
Connecticut would have treated this with a simple diamond interchange and 5 signalized intersections, because CT is more urbanized than SF and land is more expensive /s
Quote from: bing101 on December 05, 2016, 04:18:50 PM
The East LA interchange and the MacArthur Maze in Oakland are the most incredible interchanges in California.
If the MacArthur Maze isn't it, somebody designed something while under the influence of at least 8 or 9 drugs after a severe whack on the head and a good ass kicking and after a spiritual awakening! If you include the area from 4th Street to I-580 north, you have the most elaborate road structure in the world. If you include the toll lanes eastbound, you have a situation where one lane can end up in no less than 30 different lanes in one direction. We got by with the Cypress Structure and the Bay Bridge out of commission for a couple weeks. I don't even want to consider how we would run life in the Bay Area without the Maze.
Quote from: michravera on December 06, 2016, 12:39:23 PM
If you include the area from 4th Street to I-580 north, you have the most elaborate road structure in the world.
Napoleon, like anyone can even know that.
Quote from: kurumi on December 06, 2016, 10:51:54 AM
I'll submit the compactly elaborate US 101 / Cesar Chavez / Potrero interchange in San Francisco: https://goo.gl/maps/gEUF3SnBCzC2
The US 101 SB exit ramp splits into 4 ramps, for NB, WB, SB and EB Potrero / CC, which are grade separated from each other.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FCLpe1T0.jpg&hash=7898e8dcf3dca09cf5d237d0156820c266b81f21)
One of the reasons why this interchange is so complex is because it was designed to provide a freeway connection to a new bridge crossing the San Francisco Bay.
There are also two grade separated pedestrian paths through this interchange.
Quote from: bing101 on December 05, 2016, 04:18:50 PM
The East LA interchange and the MacArthur Maze in Oakland are the most incredible interchanges in California.
Both of these interchanges started out rather logically planned out, but then had additional ramps added as new freeways were connected to the interchanges. Here's a picture posted by TheStranger from this thread: https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=4284.msg94168#msg94168:
Quote from: TheStranger on March 16, 2011, 06:14:20 PM
1937, back when this was the US 40/50 split with Route 17 coming on the north and south. From Eric Fischer's Flickr page:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/walkingsf/5532690495/
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm6.static.flickr.com%2F5293%2F5532690495_3ab49cd70e_z.jpg&hash=305c6e6f4c8d0c24a346776192876155d33ce740)
And the way it looks now:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fff0wCOg.png&hash=c3bbe518f4859372fc10ff421f03ad4265270588)
The Le June Road and FL 112 interchange near Miami International Airport with FL 112 having switched carriageways and a RR Grade is elaborate. Before 1990 it was a cloverleaf between Le June and the Airport road as FL 112 ended a mile to the north on LeJune Road. Then FL 112 got extended into that simple cloverleaf making what it is today.
It's not particularly pretty or large, but the 130/168 intersection in NJ was unique for many decades, with left turn lanes crossing though the opposing straight lanes prior to the intersection. https://goo.gl/maps/qA3WCKCdAmD2 . It still remains fairly elaborate for what it does. NJ built this one back in the 1940's or so to replace a Jersey Circle back then, and it actually still works functionally well today.
It has been occasionally duplicated in recent years in other states, and is often times noted as a "new" design. I have never seen this one mentioned in those other stories. The biggest downside is you can't make a few turns at the intersection directly (168 North to 130 South, and 168 South to 130 North), although the nearby street grid allows for those movements. And it still contains some of the oldest overhead gantries in the state (albeit with much newer BGSs: https://goo.gl/maps/YfoiGBwbgQ52 . The DRPA still has some older signage attached to this one though... https://goo.gl/maps/euhmJWXdkAy ) Oh, and the lanes...yeah, they're a little tight. I think they're 10 foot lanes, on a slight curve thru the intersection, with heavy truck traffic!
You are right about that intersection, as when I first drove though it in 1985, it was attractive to me. And yes those gantries are old despite the panels have been updated, but nonetheless NJDOT kept them considering many places replace them over short periods or at one point do a complete overhaul.
What amazed me was that there is (or was) horizontal signal heads used there as they were pretty much installed by municipalities or in bridge obstructions or drawbridge signals and never by NJDOT. Of course there is NJ 21 and NJ 27 in Elizabeth and Newark that have had plenty, but back in 1985 I was to assume that NJDOT did not maintain those sections of highway. So because of that, it did attract me to it as well.
Quote from: jeffe on December 07, 2016, 01:35:04 AM
Quote from: kurumi on December 06, 2016, 10:51:54 AM
I'll submit the compactly elaborate US 101 / Cesar Chavez / Potrero interchange in San Francisco: https://goo.gl/maps/gEUF3SnBCzC2
The US 101 SB exit ramp splits into 4 ramps, for NB, WB, SB and EB Potrero / CC, which are grade separated from each other.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FCLpe1T0.jpg&hash=7898e8dcf3dca09cf5d237d0156820c266b81f21)
One of the reasons why this interchange is so complex is because it was designed to provide a freeway connection to a new bridge crossing the San Francisco Bay.
There are also two grade separated pedestrian paths through this interchange.
Quote from: bing101 on December 05, 2016, 04:18:50 PM
The East LA interchange and the MacArthur Maze in Oakland are the most incredible interchanges in California.
Both of these interchanges started out rather logically planned out, but then had additional ramps added as new freeways were connected to the interchanges. Here's a picture posted by TheStranger from this thread: https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=4284.msg94168#msg94168:
Quote from: TheStranger on March 16, 2011, 06:14:20 PM
1937, back when this was the US 40/50 split with Route 17 coming on the north and south. From Eric Fischer's Flickr page:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/walkingsf/5532690495/
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm6.static.flickr.com%2F5293%2F5532690495_3ab49cd70e_z.jpg&hash=305c6e6f4c8d0c24a346776192876155d33ce740)
And the way it looks now:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fff0wCOg.png&hash=c3bbe518f4859372fc10ff421f03ad4265270588)
Traffic Structure look like 'Chaeli hair!
East St Louis, the IL-3 and old US 460 interchange. Sprawling double interchange
Quote from: jeffandnicole on December 07, 2016, 09:37:32 AM
It's not particularly pretty or large, but the 130/168 intersection in NJ was unique for many decades, with left turn lanes crossing though the opposing straight lanes prior to the intersection. https://goo.gl/maps/qA3WCKCdAmD2 . It still remains fairly elaborate for what it does. NJ built this one back in the 1940's or so to replace a Jersey Circle back then, and it actually still works functionally well today.
It has been occasionally duplicated in recent years in other states, and is often times noted as a "new" design. I have never seen this one mentioned in those other stories. The biggest downside is you can't make a few turns at the intersection directly (168 North to 130 South, and 168 South to 130 North), although the nearby street grid allows for those movements. And it still contains some of the oldest overhead gantries in the state (albeit with much newer BGSs: https://goo.gl/maps/YfoiGBwbgQ52 . The DRPA still has some older signage attached to this one though... https://goo.gl/maps/euhmJWXdkAy ) Oh, and the lanes...yeah, they're a little tight. I think they're 10 foot lanes, on a slight curve thru the intersection, with heavy truck traffic!
I wonder if the people who initially designed and built that intersection had ever uttered the words "continuous flow intersection"; because that's what that type or intersection would be called today.
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the Bruckner Interchange in the Bronx. You've got I-95, I-295, I-278, I-678, and the Hutchinson Parkway all converging on one point. Also, there's a separate (very short) expressway, I-695, that bypasses the interchange altogether for two of the motions between I-95 and I-295.
NJ 440/Garden State Parkway/US9/CR 656/Riverside Drive/CR655/Crows mills road in Woodbridge NJ
I almost forgot about this interchange. It's Virginia's original "Mixing Bowl"... I-395 at VA 27
https://goo.gl/maps/CNKmEbztpFF2
http://wikimapia.org/1619738/Kellogg-Interchange
The Kellogg Interchange in Pomona it has to be another complex interchange for Southern California and its elaborate too.
I saw this video yesterday on YouTube:
I thought the one going through a building was the most unique. Here's (https://www.google.com/maps/@34.6980708,135.4898639,19z/data=!3m1!1e3) a link to it on Google Maps.
US 60 - Grand Avenue Intersections:
Mcdowell Rd with BNSF Yard Rail Crossings/!9th Avenue (No Rail), 6 Way Intersection
Thomas Road/27th Avenue both with BNSF Rail Crossing, Interchange Exit 160
Grand Avenue Overpass (EB Exit/WB Entrance have BNSF Rail Crossing Ramps)
Osborn Road (West Only)/31st Avenue both with BNSF Rail Crossing, 5 Way Intersection
Indian School Road/35th Avenue both with BNSF Rail Crossing, 6 Way Intersection
Indian School Road Overpass EB single exit to Grand Ave & 35th Avenue, 2 Exits WB Exit to 35th NB, Exit to Grand Avenue WB
Camelback Road/43rd Avenue both with BNSF Rail Crossing, Interchange Exit 157
Grand Avenue Overpass
Bethany Home Road with BNSF Rail Crossing/51st Avenue Access Road (SB Access to WB Grand Avenue only) NB From all Directions, 4 Way Intersection
51st Avenue Overpass
Maryland Avenue/NB 55th Avenue, WB only Right Out/Right IN to NB 55th Avenue/Maryland Avenue No Access EB
Maryland Avenue Overpass
Glendale Avenue/59th Avenue both with BNSF Rail Crossing, 4 Way Intersection
Grand Avenue Underpass, No direct access (Access via 57th Drive to Glendale Avenue (Unsigned), via Myrtle Avenue to 59th Avenue & Glendale Avenue)
Northern Avenue/67th Avenue (Access Roads) both with BNSF Rail Crossing, 5 Way Intersection
67th Avenue Overpass
Olive Avenue (Access Road)/75th Avenue both with BNSF Rail Crossing
Olive Avenue Overpass
In Jacksonville the i10/95 merger(US17 and SR228 also go thru the interchange) and connections to local streets nearby which are not in the strictest definition part of the exit
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fuploads.tapatalk-cdn.com%2F20161221%2F549bfc0a2bcce4ac622acd82d723a28e.jpg&hash=372751385ae6686bb83decf6fde98e2d8a1bfd96)
Just scross the St Johns River is the interchange of 95 with US1, US90, SR 13, SR10 (which becomes signed and seperate from US90 just east of there) and San Marco Blvd.
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fuploads.tapatalk-cdn.com%2F20161221%2Ffd7d7118d860ea5ac2df1be9ebcafce0.jpg&hash=06bbad2a76e00913d1114efd9aa08a392b92e4e8)
Fuller Warren Bridge was replaced finished in about 2000. 10/95 merger rebuilt finising 2006. Currently the viaduct on 95 at the southend is being reconstructed finising in 2018... So over 20 years of projects in the general area
LGMS428
Quote from: Michael on December 18, 2016, 06:15:32 PM
I saw this video yesterday on YouTube:
I thought the one going through a building was the most unique. Here's (https://www.google.com/maps/@34.6980708,135.4898639,19z/data=!3m1!1e3) a link to it on Google Maps.
What interchange is that at 0:07?
Quote from: coatimundi on December 03, 2016, 05:35:24 PM
The Orange Crush is the most elaborate I can think of within the US, particularly since they added the HOV ramps: https://www.google.com/maps/@33.7804191,-117.8801821,16.05z
Then there's the 25/76/270/36 complex in northern Denver: https://www.google.com/maps/@39.8216053,-104.9735603,14.55z
I see your Orange Crush and raise you the Newhall Interchange at the northern end of the San Fernando Valley. :D
I'm surprised no one has mentioned these few in NYC: (note that I made up the names of most of these interchanges, so if there's an official name please let me know)
"Kew Gardens Interchange": Grand Central Parkway/I-678/Jackie Robinson Parkway/Union Turnpike
"Flushing Interchange": I-495/I-678/College Point Blvd.
"Whitestone Interchange": I-678/NY-25A/Grand Central Parkway
"Maj. Deegan Interchange": I-95 & US-1/I-87/Washington Bridge
"Henry Hudson Interchange": I-95 & US-1 & US-9/NY-9A/A bunch of side streets
Mine is the upcoming interchange in Fort Worth at I-35W, US 287, SH 121 (Airport freeway), and Spurs 280 and 347 (Belknap and Weatherford). Overlayed upon this are managed lanes. Getting traffic directly to and from the managed lanes adds complexity.
It looks like the managed lanes get a direct route to US 287 southbound, while the current route, which future main lane traffic will continue to use, is to go south on I-35W to the eastbound I-30 exit to get to US 287. I don't see a managed lane exit to Spur 280, but there is one to Spur 347, which appears to be accessible by direct connectors only to and from the managed lanes (which are only to the north), while other traffic to and from downtown is directed to Spur 280. Both Spurs go to about the same place, a few blocks apart downtown, but the managed lane users get their own road to and from downtown.
A significant improvement is that US 287 north will have direct access to SH 121 without using the Interstate main lanes, which currently is a major pain. Another is the frontage road bridges over the river. Currently, all traffic is forced onto the main lane bridges. By my count, they manage to do all of this in just 5 levels. The interchange doesn't cover a large area, but it has a lot of segregated roadways going to different places. By my count, it has as many as 13 parallel roadways either on separate structures or segregated by barriers at the widest point, just north of Spur 280. I estimate 29 lanes at that point.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V44G_-KBFy4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V44G_-KBFy4)
In my country, the most complex one that comes to my mind it's the A-4 - M-30 - Embajadores Street - AndalucÃa Avenue - Planetario Avenue interchange, that even has tunnels extending half a kilometer away from it to meet Planetario Ave.
https://goo.gl/maps/SpkfKgyYRCt (https://goo.gl/maps/SpkfKgyYRCt)
Maybe the most elaborate for me is the I-77/85 interchange in charlotte because we went over it a few times between downtown CLT and the hotel we were staying at. The geometry also seems unusual.
The I-495/66 interchange in Merrifield is another "real" interchange I can remember.
I come from an area with cloverleafs, diamonds and half stacks, nothing really interesting (except the redesigned Peace Bridge interchange). Although even some "complex" interchanges like the Chicago Loop don't seem as interesting when you drive through them.
Quote from: Buffaboy on January 05, 2017, 01:22:32 AM
I come from an area with cloverleafs, diamonds and half stacks, nothing really interesting (except the redesigned Peace Bridge interchange). Although even some "complex" interchanges like the Chicago Loop don't seem as interesting when you drive through them.
Then it was built and signed properly! Complex interchanges can seem real complex, scary & confusing from the sky. But for most people, they just need to stay on the mainline, or take a single ramp from one road to another road, just like any other highway interchange.
There's been a few pictures taken with some professional zoom cameras of the DC Beltway around I-66 and the Dulles Toll Road. From a certain angle, all you see is signs for exits all over the place, for both the tolled and free roadways. But in reality, the picture was able to clearly focus on over 2 miles worth of roadway, so all you simply saw was the normal signage for an exit (1 mile ahead, 1/4 mile ahead, Exit (here), Exit Gore sign, etc). A lot of people criticized the picture as a problem with the roadway, but those same people probably had no clue that is the roadway they drive every day...and it certainly is less crazy sign-wise when you're driving along it.
Quote from: jeffandnicole on January 05, 2017, 06:37:04 AM
There's been a few pictures taken with some professional zoom cameras of the DC Beltway around I-66 and the Dulles Toll Road. From a certain angle, all you see is signs for exits all over the place, for both the tolled and free roadways. But in reality, the picture was able to clearly focus on over 2 miles worth of roadway, so all you simply saw was the normal signage for an exit (1 mile ahead, 1/4 mile ahead, Exit (here), Exit Gore sign, etc). A lot of people criticized the picture as a problem with the roadway, but those same people probably had no clue that is the roadway they drive every day...and it certainly is less crazy sign-wise when you're driving along it.
Is this the photo you're referring to? http://kunstler.com/eyesore-of-the-month/december-2012/
I-264 and I-65 interchange in Louisville.
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.1907775,-85.736166,2382m/data=!3m1!1e3
http://imgur.com/a/WCSi8
Until the late 80s early 90s it was just two clover leaves, improvements were challenging due to the close proximity of Louisville International Airport and the additional interchange for the airport/Exhibition center as well as for Crittenden Dr and Preston Highway.