What's the most original intersection/interchange you've ever seen?

[freebrickproductions]

The interchange at I-565 and US 231/US 431 in Huntsville, AL is rather interesting:
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.7349703,-86.5942172,16z/data=!3m1!1e3

[paulthemapguy]

This situation in Poughkeepsie is pretty distinctive.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.702399,-73.9369497,16.5z

[froggie]

The I-85/I-77 interchange in Charlotte also comes to mind. What makes it intriguing is the double-crossover that I-77 does there, allowing the two loop ramps (to I-85) and the two left-turn ramps (from I-85) to be placed in the middle.

And speaking of I-77 in Charlotte, the two junctions with I-277 (at the Brookshire and Belk Freeways) also make an interesting case of their own.

^The Diverging Freeway Interchange. 

Yeah, but that's only a half.  20/59/65 in Birmingham is a full.  A similar config existed at 95/695 outside Baltimore before 95 was rebuild to include the express toll lanes.

[cl94]

This situation in Poughkeepsie is pretty distinctive.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.702399,-73.9369497,16.5z

What's worse is that it was supposed to be I-487 before most of the rest of it got cancelled

[Super Mateo]

Indiana Toll Road/I-65/US 12/US 20/Assorted local roads: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5916701,-87.305009,2705m/data=!3m1!1e3

This is the only place I've ever seen where a ramp is a 540 degree turn. It goes from I-65 north, then east under the Toll Road, then south along it, back west over the Toll Road, into the loop ramp of a trumpet, and finally onto the Toll Road eastbound.

[cl94]

Indiana Toll Road/I-65/US 12/US 20/Assorted local roads: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5916701,-87.305009,2705m/data=!3m1!1e3

This is the only place I've ever seen where a ramp is a 540 degree turn. It goes from I-65 north, then east under the Toll Road, then south along it, back west over the Toll Road, into the loop ramp of a trumpet, and finally onto the Toll Road eastbound.

Mass Pike Exit 10A. I didn't post it because it's basically a simple trumpet, but it loops around to the other side. Traffic from US 20 to I-90 WB has a 540 degree turn and WB to US 20 does 450. Fits in a constrained space, but quite the oddity (and it still doesn't provide a freeway-freeway connection)

Also from MA, the quadruple trumpet in West Springfield. 2 major expressways, neither of which terminate at the interchange, plus US 5. Straight out of the "only in Massachusetts" category. They finally striped it for 2 lanes during the last repaving project, so it isn't as much of a charlie foxtrot as it once was, but it is still bad. Good luck finding another quadruple trumpet.

[Zeffy]

Indiana Toll Road/I-65/US 12/US 20/Assorted local roads: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5916701,-87.305009,2705m/data=!3m1!1e3

This is the only place I've ever seen where a ramp is a 540 degree turn. It goes from I-65 north, then east under the Toll Road, then south along it, back west over the Toll Road, into the loop ramp of a trumpet, and finally onto the Toll Road eastbound.

Wouldn't the Helix on NJ 495 to get into the Lincoln Tunnel qualify? I'm pretty sure you go like 720 degrees...

[jeffandnicole]

Indiana Toll Road/I-65/US 12/US 20/Assorted local roads: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5916701,-87.305009,2705m/data=!3m1!1e3

This is the only place I've ever seen where a ramp is a 540 degree turn. It goes from I-65 north, then east under the Toll Road, then south along it, back west over the Toll Road, into the loop ramp of a trumpet, and finally onto the Toll Road eastbound.

Wouldn't the Helix on NJ 495 to get into the Lincoln Tunnel qualify? I'm pretty sure you go like 720 degrees...

Nope - just 360.  720 would be if you went around the helix twice.

[Henry]

The I-85/I-77 interchange in Charlotte also comes to mind. What makes it intriguing is the double-crossover that I-77 does there, allowing the two loop ramps (to I-85) and the two left-turn ramps (from I-85) to be placed in the middle.

And speaking of I-77 in Charlotte, the two junctions with I-277 (at the Brookshire and Belk Freeways) also make an interesting case of their own.

^The Diverging Freeway Interchange. 

Yeah, but that's only a half.  20/59/65 in Birmingham is a full.  A similar config existed at 95/695 outside Baltimore before 95 was rebuild to include the express toll lanes.

Just found the Birmingham example:
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.5193875,-86.8264166,1576m/data=!3m1!1e3

[Rothman]

This situation in Poughkeepsie is pretty distinctive.

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.702399,-73.9369497,16.5z

What's worse is that it was supposed to be I-487 before most of the rest of it got cancelled

Heh.  I actually like the figure-eight interchange.

[Rothman]

Also from MA, the quadruple trumpet in West Springfield. 2 major expressways, neither of which terminate at the interchange, plus US 5. Straight out of the "only in Massachusetts" category. They finally striped it for 2 lanes during the last repaving project, so it isn't as much of a charlie foxtrot as it once was, but it is still bad. Good luck finding another quadruple trumpet.

Years ago I pointed out that interchange as special or confusing on m.t.r. and a couple of people actually responded that it's "just" a trumpet interchange.  *sigh*

[Henry]

Also from MA, the quadruple trumpet in West Springfield. 2 major expressways, neither of which terminate at the interchange, plus US 5. Straight out of the "only in Massachusetts" category. They finally striped it for 2 lanes during the last repaving project, so it isn't as much of a charlie foxtrot as it once was, but it is still bad. Good luck finding another quadruple trumpet.

Years ago I pointed out that interchange as special or confusing on m.t.r. and a couple of people actually responded that it's "just" a trumpet interchange.  *sigh*

Wow, that's a lot of trumpets! 

[Rothman]

Indiana Toll Road/I-65/US 12/US 20/Assorted local roads: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5916701,-87.305009,2705m/data=!3m1!1e3

This is the only place I've ever seen where a ramp is a 540 degree turn. It goes from I-65 north, then east under the Toll Road, then south along it, back west over the Toll Road, into the loop ramp of a trumpet, and finally onto the Toll Road eastbound.

Mass Pike Exit 10A. I didn't post it because it's basically a simple trumpet, but it loops around to the other side. Traffic from US 20 to I-90 WB has a 540 degree turn and WB to US 20 does 450. Fits in a constrained space, but quite the oddity (and it still doesn't provide a freeway-freeway connection)

Wasn't the "connection" to MA 146 even worse years ago (or even nonexistent?)?  I remember people doing all sorts of strange shunpiking or routing to get over to MA 146 that doesn't need to be done now.

[cl94]

Indiana Toll Road/I-65/US 12/US 20/Assorted local roads: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.5916701,-87.305009,2705m/data=!3m1!1e3

This is the only place I've ever seen where a ramp is a 540 degree turn. It goes from I-65 north, then east under the Toll Road, then south along it, back west over the Toll Road, into the loop ramp of a trumpet, and finally onto the Toll Road eastbound.

Mass Pike Exit 10A. I didn't post it because it's basically a simple trumpet, but it loops around to the other side. Traffic from US 20 to I-90 WB has a 540 degree turn and WB to US 20 does 450. Fits in a constrained space, but quite the oddity (and it still doesn't provide a freeway-freeway connection)

Wasn't the "connection" to MA 146 even worse years ago (or even nonexistent?)?  I remember people doing all sorts of strange shunpiking or routing to get over to MA 146 that doesn't need to be done now.

Yeah, I think people used to use Exit 10. I-395 still has a bunch of signs instructing people to use US 20 to get to MA 146 (at Exit 10A).

[kurumi]

Also from MA, the quadruple trumpet in West Springfield. 2 major expressways, neither of which terminate at the interchange, plus US 5. Straight out of the "only in Massachusetts" category. They finally striped it for 2 lanes during the last repaving project, so it isn't as much of a charlie foxtrot as it once was, but it is still bad. Good luck finding another quadruple trumpet.

Years ago I pointed out that interchange as special or confusing on m.t.r. and a couple of people actually responded that it's "just" a trumpet interchange.  *sigh*

Wow, that's a lot of trumpets! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYwoy7QhNBY

[SidS1045]

I-395 still has a bunch of signs instructing people to use US 20 to get to MA 146 (at Exit 10A).

And by the end of the year that will be a free trip on the MassPike.

[Buffaboy]

The I-85/I-77 interchange in Charlotte also comes to mind. What makes it intriguing is the double-crossover that I-77 does there, allowing the two loop ramps (to I-85) and the two left-turn ramps (from I-85) to be placed in the middle.

And speaking of I-77 in Charlotte, the two junctions with I-277 (at the Brookshire and Belk Freeways) also make an interesting case of their own.

The Cyclone (I-85/I-485) earns an honorable mention

[Buffaboy]

The I-90/I-790 trumpet in Utica was one continuous:

https://www.google.com/maps/@43.1144609,-75.211859,16z

[Rothman]

The I-90/I-790 trumpet in Utica was one continuous:

https://www.google.com/maps/@43.1144609,-75.211859,16z

It's a trombone.

[roadman65]

The US 11 and PA 581 interchange with the EB PA 581 to US 11 SB and Carlisle Pike ramp.   It goes to the east side of PA 581 after it exits and then goes back to the west side.

If you go to the EB Pike you cross PA 581 three times.


Then of course, Breezewood, is an original further west on the PA Turnpike.  Of course we know that one

[freebrickproductions]

The I-85/I-77 interchange in Charlotte also comes to mind. What makes it intriguing is the double-crossover that I-77 does there, allowing the two loop ramps (to I-85) and the two left-turn ramps (from I-85) to be placed in the middle.

And speaking of I-77 in Charlotte, the two junctions with I-277 (at the Brookshire and Belk Freeways) also make an interesting case of their own.

^The Diverging Freeway Interchange. 

Yeah, but that's only a half.  20/59/65 in Birmingham is a full.  A similar config existed at 95/695 outside Baltimore before 95 was rebuild to include the express toll lanes.

Just found the Birmingham example:
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.5193875,-86.8264166,1576m/data=!3m1!1e3

Also known to us Alabamians as "Malfunction Junction". Also, in the I-20/I-59 bridge replacement project, more ramps to connect to surface streets will be added to that interchange.

[hbelkins]

Also from MA, the quadruple trumpet in West Springfield. 2 major expressways, neither of which terminate at the interchange, plus US 5. Straight out of the "only in Massachusetts" category. They finally striped it for 2 lanes during the last repaving project, so it isn't as much of a charlie foxtrot as it once was, but it is still bad. Good luck finding another quadruple trumpet.

I'd nominate Exit 13 on I-91 (US 5) as more unique than the I-91/MassPike/US 5 connection.

[cl94]

Also from MA, the quadruple trumpet in West Springfield. 2 major expressways, neither of which terminate at the interchange, plus US 5. Straight out of the "only in Massachusetts" category. They finally striped it for 2 lanes during the last repaving project, so it isn't as much of a charlie foxtrot as it once was, but it is still bad. Good luck finding another quadruple trumpet.

I'd nominate Exit 13 on I-91 (US 5) as more unique than the I-91/MassPike/US 5 connection.

I forgot about that one. Another thing that looks Massachusetts.

[Ian]

I've always found the interchange between I-476 and PA 3 in Broomall, PA to be a tad bit peculiar (though it doesn't nearly compare to the other ones posted in the thread). It's a perfect diamond interchange with one cloverleaf ramp for PA 3 west to I-476 south. Traffic can't turn left at the traffic signal beyond the cloverleaf ramp (nor can they turn right from the opposite direction), yet there's marked and usable pavement for motorists to use if they choose to make the illegal left or right. This small ramp connecting PA 3 to the ramp from 3 east to 476 south is only legally allowed to be used by traffic coming off of I-476 south on the offramp, which even has it's own designated lane as you approach the intersection. Forgive me if there are a bunch of other examples of this same situation, but I thought it was interesting.

[CobaltYoshi27]

Exit 38 on I-95 in Connecticut to the Merritt Parkway (Exit 54 on Merritt) needs a connector that has exit numbers of its own