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National Boards => General Highway Talk => Topic started by: hotdogPi on April 07, 2021, 03:21:26 PM

Title: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: hotdogPi on April 07, 2021, 03:21:26 PM
This came up in a different thread, so I decided to split it into its own topic.

Two examples close to me that I know of:
1. The western end of MA 213. Very simple, and I'm surprised the design doesn't exist anywhere else.
2. I-495 (MA) exits 44-45: if you get off at exit 44 northbound and stay on the ramps, you'll eventually find yourself on the mainline of I-495 southbound. (Exit numbers are still sequential, but they won't be for long. If you're reading this in the future, it's the Merrimack River crossing in Lawrence.)

Taking an exit twice that turns you 90° each time, such as a cloverleaf, is common enough that I am not including them.
Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: kphoger on April 07, 2021, 03:36:40 PM
I-10/I-20 (https://goo.gl/maps/TuaxEFCp8gLVBx4eA), of course
Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: Max Rockatansky on April 07, 2021, 03:52:33 PM
There was one installed on northbound I-5 at Castaic last year following the peroxide spill debacle in 2019. 
Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: webny99 on April 07, 2021, 03:59:57 PM
Quote from: 1 on April 07, 2021, 03:21:26 PM
1. The western end of MA 213. Very simple, and I'm surprised the design doesn't exist anywhere else.

Probably because of the weave and the right-of-way. Many interchanges don't have that much space between the two ramps that cross the freeway.

Here's a few examples that may count, but I'm not sure:
NY 104 at Goodman St (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.1962318,-77.5758526,18.33z?hl=en)
Robert Moses State Parkway (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.2594772,-79.0330392,16.08z?hl=en)
Lake Ontario State Parkway (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.2727695,-77.6906074,16.83z?hl=en) (there are several more besides the two shown in the link)

Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: HighwayStar on April 07, 2021, 04:04:59 PM
Not sure if you would count them, but the Texas U turn system is very close to a turn around on a freeway. Technically you leave the highway to use one, but in practice it makes little difference in many cases.
Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: kphoger on April 07, 2021, 04:14:19 PM
Monterrey's free bypass:  https://goo.gl/maps/1vJ4Ct1JgTEhTRPq5 (https://goo.gl/maps/1vJ4Ct1JgTEhTRPq5)

It used to be signed (https://goo.gl/maps/wY2bCMA5Bm1tZtPKA) but appears to be no longer (https://goo.gl/maps/UTdTBXmav3QPZinr8).
Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: jmacswimmer on April 07, 2021, 04:18:45 PM
I-70's eastern terminus (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.3014694,-76.709093,3a,75y,56.15h,85.75t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sNCUoouy7vFHZwvgWvxvBoQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en) (sometimes used, pre-COVID anyway, by myself & others as a way of bypassing congestion on the ramp from I-70 EB to I-695 NB)
Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: 1995hoo on April 07, 2021, 04:25:40 PM
The ability to turn around is reasonably common on British motorways due to the use of roundabout interchanges even between motorways–for example, the M32 at the M4 near Bristol (https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5122999,-2.5225758,16.75z) or the M49 at the M4 just east of the bridge to Wales (https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5675204,-2.6699867,15.5z). I distinguish those from a situation where the roundabout is part of a junction but only a non-motorway has to pass through it (such as the M4's Junction 15 near Swindon (https://www.google.com/maps/@51.5261162,-1.7278265,17.5z))–the latter is more in the nature of the OP's comment about a cloverleaf because you have to exit to use the roundabout, whereas when the roundabout is part of one of the motorways, one of them (the M32 and the M49, in the examples I gave earlier) lets you turn around without exiting.
Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: HighwayStar on April 07, 2021, 04:31:27 PM
Quote from: jmacswimmer on April 07, 2021, 04:18:45 PM
I-70's eastern terminus (https://www.google.com/maps/@39.3014694,-76.709093,3a,75y,56.15h,85.75t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sNCUoouy7vFHZwvgWvxvBoQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?hl=en) (sometimes used, pre-COVID anyway, by myself & others as a way of bypassing congestion on the ramp from I-70 EB to I-695 NB)

Also in the catagory of embarrassing dead ends is I-95 where it terminates north of DC.
Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: MCRoads on April 07, 2021, 07:39:35 PM
The MA Turnpike in Boston has one, not sure why. The only reason I can think to have it there is to allow traffic entering west from Mass Ave to go east. But that's a long way. Any other theories?
Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: SkyPesos on April 07, 2021, 07:48:23 PM
I-376 WB exit 69A. Although not signed as such, the exit is a balloon loop (which seems to be the case for most of the examples here), so you can turn around from WB to EB there.
Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: Revive 755 on April 07, 2021, 10:26:21 PM
It's pushing the "on the freeway part" but I'll nominate the turnaround on the Tudor Street Exit in East St. Louis. (https://goo.gl/maps/epA1C9qedP6J1xH68)
Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: ilpt4u on April 08, 2021, 12:00:12 AM
Pretty sure there used to be one on I-55 NB to SB at IL 129 in Wilmington, IL. The grading for it is still visible on Google Sat View

I-55 SB no longer has access to IL 129, but it used to have a Left Exit and fly over the NB lanes (all that is left are the bridge piers along the NB lanes). There was no direct SB entrance, tho - so the turn-around was there so the NB entrance could be utilized, then use the turn-around to head SB

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.3157422,-88.1918715,798m/data=!3m1!1e3

Going off of Google Earth Historical Sat imagery, looks like the turn-around and the SB exit were there thru 2011, and were being removed in 2012. I distinctly remember having seen both open in the not too distant past - 10+ years ago, now it is!
Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: jp the roadgeek on April 08, 2021, 12:02:02 AM
I-295 North Exit 9B in Johnston, RI.  It's even signed I-295 SOUTH Warwick. Uses the western stub of the US 6 expressway that was supposed to be part of I-84.
Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: TheStranger on April 08, 2021, 01:16:49 AM
A couple of examples in Makati:

South Luzon Expressway at EDSA, on the lowest level of the Magallanes Interchange.  Northbound to southbound
https://www.google.com/maps/@14.5394487,121.0172823,3a,75y,325.74h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s0prtrkhRq67rlnDcKi5KEQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3D0prtrkhRq67rlnDcKi5KEQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D352.76984%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

C-5 at Kalayaan Avenue, East Rembo (near Bonifacio Global City).  Turnarounds from northbound-southbound and southbound-northbound
https://www.google.com/maps/@14.5559324,121.0629961,3a,48y,35.29h,92.94t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s_Ih9t5In7soPWoi3aNwukg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3D_Ih9t5In7soPWoi3aNwukg%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D236.27675%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@14.5551936,121.0621174,3a,75y,223.83h,83.43t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sgiCHb4yGYceor6iRt3YuVQ!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DgiCHb4yGYceor6iRt3YuVQ%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D301.6548%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656

Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: Bickendan on April 08, 2021, 01:31:42 AM
Quote from: Revive 755 on April 07, 2021, 10:26:21 PM
It's pushing the "on the freeway part" but I'll nominate the turnaround on the Tudor Street Exit in East St. Louis. (https://goo.gl/maps/epA1C9qedP6J1xH68)
Looks like another one at the north end of the interchange at Main and Obama.
Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: I-55 on April 08, 2021, 08:40:28 AM
Some parts of Huntsville area roads have dedicated u-turns on exit ramps that avoid the traffic lights. Notably AL-255 and US-231.

There are several dedicated u-turns on the Lake Ponchartrain Causeway
Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: froggie on April 08, 2021, 09:32:46 AM
Exit 1 on I-10 LA is officially signed as the "Sabine River Turnaround" and is just a freeway ramp.  Exit 880 on the Texas side of the river is functionally the same, but also routes U-turn traffic through the westbound Welcome Center.
Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: kphoger on April 08, 2021, 11:01:29 AM
Quote from: ilpt4u on April 08, 2021, 12:00:12 AM
Pretty sure there used to be one on I-55 NB to SB at IL 129 in Wilmington, IL. The grading for it is still visible on Google Sat View

I-55 SB no longer has access to IL 129, but it used to have a Left Exit and fly over the NB lanes (all that is left are the bridge piers along the NB lanes). There was no direct SB entrance, tho - so the turn-around was there so the NB entrance could be utilized, then use the turn-around to head SB

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.3157422,-88.1918715,798m/data=!3m1!1e3

Going off of Google Earth Historical Sat imagery, looks like the turn-around and the SB exit were there thru 2011, and were being removed in 2012. I distinctly remember having seen both open in the not too distant past - 10+ years ago, now it is!

GSV (https://goo.gl/maps/LdtUXvZzs1M9v3Wy8)
Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: TheGrassGuy on April 08, 2021, 03:19:13 PM
Related question: what happens if you use the New Baltimore Travel Plaza on the New York State Thruway or the Vince Lombardi Travel Plaza on the New Jersey Turnpike to make a U-turn?
Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: jeffandnicole on April 08, 2021, 03:27:15 PM
Quote from: TheGrassGuy on April 08, 2021, 03:19:13 PM
Related question: what happens if you use the New Baltimore Travel Plaza on the New York State Thruway or the Vince Lombardi Travel Plaza on the New Jersey Turnpike to make a U-turn?

At least on the NJ Turnpike, nothing other than you'll need to pay another toll after you return to the tolled portion of the Turnpike.
Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: snowc on April 08, 2021, 03:31:57 PM
Quote from: webny99 on April 07, 2021, 03:59:57 PM
Quote from: 1 on April 07, 2021, 03:21:26 PM
1. The western end of MA 213. Very simple, and I'm surprised the design doesn't exist anywhere else.

Probably because of the weave and the right-of-way. Many interchanges don't have that much space between the two ramps that cross the freeway.

Here's a few examples that may count, but I'm not sure:
NY 104 at Goodman St (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.1962318,-77.5758526,18.33z?hl=en)
Robert Moses State Parkway (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.2594772,-79.0330392,16.08z?hl=en)
Lake Ontario State Parkway (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.2727695,-77.6906074,16.83z?hl=en) (there are several more besides the two shown in the link)
One here in many spots
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.088512,-76.1030805,16z (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.088512,-76.1030805,16z) Triple Bonus points for this one. Military circle, the turnaround and the Carrier Circle
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.8874896,-75.9904904,15z (https://www.google.com/maps/@43.8874896,-75.9904904,15z) and this one over rte 11 and I81.
Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: zachary_amaryllis on April 08, 2021, 03:43:00 PM
what about exit oh i think its 3 on the palisades interstate parkway? its a u-turn, to get to the actual exit 3 on the sb side.
Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: TheGrassGuy on April 08, 2021, 06:25:46 PM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on April 08, 2021, 03:27:15 PM
Quote from: TheGrassGuy on April 08, 2021, 03:19:13 PM
Related question: what happens if you use the New Baltimore Travel Plaza on the New York State Thruway or the Vince Lombardi Travel Plaza on the New Jersey Turnpike to make a U-turn?

At least on the NJ Turnpike, nothing other than you'll need to pay another toll after you return to the tolled portion of the Turnpike.

For some reason I keep believing that the closed toll system ends right before the interchange with US-46. :bigass:
Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: Evan_Th on April 08, 2021, 06:54:39 PM
I-10 just west of the I-20 interchange (https://www.google.com/maps/@31.0897318,-104.0590919,2290m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en), in Texas.
Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: kphoger on April 08, 2021, 06:59:43 PM
Quote from: Evan_Th on April 08, 2021, 06:54:39 PM
I-10 just west of the I-20 interchange (https://www.google.com/maps/@31.0897318,-104.0590919,2290m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en), in Texas.

I literally posted that in the first reply of the thread.
Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: vdeane on April 08, 2021, 08:33:06 PM
Quote from: TheGrassGuy on April 08, 2021, 03:19:13 PM
Related question: what happens if you use the New Baltimore Travel Plaza on the New York State Thruway ... to make a U-turn?
Good luck with that (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.4282855,-73.8060864,3a,90y,167.38h,75.22t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sZvLCuznEfHzUiBAoChwGmA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DZvLCuznEfHzUiBAoChwGmA%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D60.116833%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656).  Given the bollards and this (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.4278568,-73.8063187,3a,50.5y,149.98h,78.91t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1smPgUK0noDvl1BitPUQAWOA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656), I'm guessing people have tried.
Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: 1995hoo on April 08, 2021, 08:53:18 PM
Quote from: vdeane on April 08, 2021, 08:33:06 PM
Quote from: TheGrassGuy on April 08, 2021, 03:19:13 PM
Related question: what happens if you use the New Baltimore Travel Plaza on the New York State Thruway ... to make a U-turn?
Good luck with that (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.4282855,-73.8060864,3a,90y,167.38h,75.22t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sZvLCuznEfHzUiBAoChwGmA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DZvLCuznEfHzUiBAoChwGmA%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D60.116833%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656).  Given the bollards and this (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.4278568,-73.8063187,3a,50.5y,149.98h,78.91t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1smPgUK0noDvl1BitPUQAWOA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656), I'm guessing people have tried.

Note also the nice fence to prevent people from driving across the grass.
Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: HighwayStar on April 08, 2021, 09:46:31 PM
Quote from: vdeane on April 08, 2021, 08:33:06 PM
Quote from: TheGrassGuy on April 08, 2021, 03:19:13 PM
Related question: what happens if you use the New Baltimore Travel Plaza on the New York State Thruway ... to make a U-turn?
Good luck with that (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.4282855,-73.8060864,3a,90y,167.38h,75.22t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sZvLCuznEfHzUiBAoChwGmA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DZvLCuznEfHzUiBAoChwGmA%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D60.116833%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656).  Given the bollards and this (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.4278568,-73.8063187,3a,50.5y,149.98h,78.91t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1smPgUK0noDvl1BitPUQAWOA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656), I'm guessing people have tried.

Nothing a full size pickup with a push bar can't handle.
Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: Scott5114 on April 08, 2021, 09:49:34 PM
Quote from: HighwayStar on April 08, 2021, 09:46:31 PM
Quote from: vdeane on April 08, 2021, 08:33:06 PM
Quote from: TheGrassGuy on April 08, 2021, 03:19:13 PM
Related question: what happens if you use the New Baltimore Travel Plaza on the New York State Thruway ... to make a U-turn?
Good luck with that (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.4282855,-73.8060864,3a,90y,167.38h,75.22t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sZvLCuznEfHzUiBAoChwGmA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DZvLCuznEfHzUiBAoChwGmA%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D60.116833%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656).  Given the bollards and this (https://www.google.com/maps/@42.4278568,-73.8063187,3a,50.5y,149.98h,78.91t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1smPgUK0noDvl1BitPUQAWOA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656), I'm guessing people have tried.

Nothing a full size pickup with a push bar can't handle.

Good way to get pulled over and billed by the DOT for property damage.
Title: Re: Turnarounds on freeways
Post by: Revive 755 on April 08, 2021, 10:09:39 PM
The 1970's imagery on Historic Aerials has one on at the eastern end of the interchange with US 40/US 61 between what was then the EB lanes of I-70 (now the SB US 61 entrance ramp) to WB I-70.  Looks like there was also one at the western end of that interchange on I-70, but it almost looks like a full crossover to a driveway.