Interchange U-Turns that are Intentional/By Design (NOT Texas U-Turns)

[Mr_Northside]

This may be the inverse of what is being asked (or not really applicable at all), but WB I-376 (Parkway East) exit 78B is a ramp going directly only to PA-8 NB, with no direct ramp to US-30 East (Both utilize Ardmore Blvd in the area - US-30 joins the Parkway here, and it is the southern terminus of PA-8).
The first light encountered upon merging into PA-8/Ardmore has a little green sign indicating to make a U-turn to go the other way to Forest Hills (though the LGS doesn't mention US-30 east).

https://maps.app.goo.gl/DA4PF2n5gpA6iVyd8

[PurdueBill]

US 1 in Peabody with an inexplicable traffic light. (This one is a Jersey freeway.)

What location specifically are you referring to here?

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.5290989,-70.9933762,18.33z?entry=ttu

Interestingly, US 1 NB also has its own ramps to I-95/128. Does this exist solely for the group of businesses north of the ramps?

Nevermind, I see now that it also serves Dearborn Rd, which connects to several other local roads. With that in mind, removing the jughandle isn't really an option. Although I agree the traffic light is inexplicable, I'm not sure what could reasonably replace it aside from an overpass that loops over US 1 or a partial interchange at Forest St/Winona St.

The Jughandle also gets reasonably heavy use from people going northbound to access Lake Street (next street southbound after the exit to 128) which serves  West Peabody and Lynnfield without having to go up to Lowell Street.  Lake Street was once part of Route 120, which has been gone for decades.

The Jughandle on Route 1 is well-known enough that traffic reports refer to it as just that--"the Jughandle".  I can hear Rich Kirkland right now on WBZ saying that Route 1 is backed up to the Lynnfield Tunnel from the Jughandle.  Everyone knew what he was talking about. 

[ErmineNotyours]

There's no left turn available from northbound Montlake Boulevard to westbound 520, so a sign clarifies that a U-turn on red is permitted.

After south US 101 merges onto east Washington 8 and the Washington 8 designation ends, there's a sign for an exit to allow access to each other route by U-turn.  https://maps.app.goo.gl/PC2uWc8viWhV1LFv8

[webny99]

Thanks everyone for the replies - there's been some good ones coming in.
Two trends I'm noticing are a lot of unsignalized/median U-turns, and a lot of LGS's as opposed to route shields.

A couple Pennsylvania examples that I think fit:

Yup - PA is great for pretty much any thread about road-related quirks/oddities/unusual configurations, and this is no exception!

- U-turn ramps are used for some movements at the PA 51/PA 837 interchange at West Elizabeth, PA: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qyVjFUA36nJu8eCs6

This is a really cool interchange design. Simple, compact, and clean.

This may be the inverse of what is being asked (or not really applicable at all), but WB I-376 (Parkway East) exit 78B is a ramp going directly only to PA-8 NB, with no direct ramp to US-30 East (Both utilize Ardmore Blvd in the area - US-30 joins the Parkway here, and it is the southern terminus of PA-8).
The first light encountered upon merging into PA-8/Ardmore has a little green sign indicating to make a U-turn to go the other way to Forest Hills (though the LGS doesn't mention US-30 east).

https://maps.app.goo.gl/DA4PF2n5gpA6iVyd8

It is odd that Forest Hills is signed but US 30 isn't, but this is otherwise a good one. Was about to comment that this U-turn could also be used to make the US 30 WB to I-376 EB movement before realizing there's already a ramp to make that movement (albeit an odd one!)

[webny99]

The Jughandle on Route 1 is well-known enough that traffic reports refer to it as just that--"the Jughandle".  I can hear Rich Kirkland right now on WBZ saying that Route 1 is backed up to the Lynnfield Tunnel from the Jughandle.  Everyone knew what he was talking about. 

Interesting that it's understood when referring to it that way, as that would definitely not work in NJ!
I guess I just figured jughandles were a bit more common than that in the Boston area/New England in general.

[webny99]

There's no left turn available from northbound Montlake Boulevard to westbound 520, so a sign clarifies that a U-turn on red is permitted.

After south US 101 merges onto east Washington 8 and the Washington 8 designation ends, there's a sign for an exit to allow access to each other route by U-turn.  https://maps.app.goo.gl/DSs3TWu1QHJpEY2W9

Wow. There's a lot going on here. The side road on the left is one-way, and the side road on the right has a "Local Access Only" sign heading away from the intersection and two "Do Not Enter" signs facing towards the intersection. And then it looks like left or U-turn on red is just randomly permitted here?? I have never seen that before. And if there's no traffic exiting either roadway, why would a red phase even exist on the main road?

My head is spinning just trying to figure out what the signal phasing is like at this intersection. Maybe as follows?

(1) green on the main road w/red left turn arrows
(2) green left turn arrows w/red on the main road

Also, you've got the same link twice so we're only seeing the U-turn on red sign.

[fwydriver405]

The closest example I can think off is near the Kelley Square area in Worcester. All traffic coming from I-290 South to Exit 17 must turn right at the interchange. To get to MA Route 122A South from I-290 South, one must turn right onto 122A North, then make a U Turn at the "peanut" roundabout to end up on 122A South.

--

New Hampshire used to have one near the Newington/Dover area before the widening of the Spaulding Turnpike, which was completed in 2020. Before the project, all traffic coming from Dover Point Road or US 4 East (Exit 6 area) had to enter the Spaulding Turnpike / NH 16 south. (Those on SB Dover Point Rd can access US 4 WB directly by going straight). Those who wanted to go northbound on the Spaulding Turnpike / NH 16 (or also access NB Dover Point Rd from US 4 East) had to reverse direction near the Exit 4 area, signed as such.

Before around 2006 or 07 ish, there used to be a LEFT Exit 4N, which was a freeway median U turn to allow those drivers to reverse direction northbound. You would cross the Little Bay Bridge south, keep left, then median U turn onto the northbound lanes. (1, 2, 3. Read more on AARoads here below the "4 East 16 South" header.)

That U turn ramp was closed around that time, as Shattuck Way (OLD RIGHT exit 4S, NEW RIGHT exit 4) was extended under Route 16. From 2006-07ish to 2020, you would use RIGHT exit 4 to Shattuck Way, go under 16, and re-enter the freeway going north.

The Exit 6 area has since been converted into a full diamond interchange, which eliminates having to do this roundabout manouvre, as there is now a direct route to 16 North or Dover Point Road North.

--

Exit 9B on I-295 North is specifically for I-295 South.  The U-Turn is a result of utilizing a partially built interchange for the cancelled I-84 from Hartford to Providence.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/W6azLGc31Fp8cLXQA

Add to the RI list, the US 1 and RI 138 interchange in North Kingstown. It's a full cloverleaf, but the western half of the road is not constructed at all (I believe it was a cancelled highway, but not certain on what it was). You can make a U-turn from the "leaves" if you want to:

- Go to US 1 South, if you already are on US 1 North.
- Go to US 1 North, if you already are on US 1 South. You exit US 1 South like you are continuing east onto RI 138, but then exit again to return to US 1 North.

[ElishaGOtis]

This interesting converted SPUI near Jacksonville, FL - US-90 @ SR-115

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.2871076,-81.5590235,17.6z?entry=ttu

EDIT: Project info here https://nflroads.com/ProjectDetails?p=5260

[jeffandnicole]

There's no left turn available from northbound Montlake Boulevard to westbound 520, so a sign clarifies that a U-turn on red is permitted.

Very interesting - not only is the sightline not the greatest, a big-ass sign informing the permission to turn on red further blocks the sightline!

[vdeane]

Freeway/freeway example - I-81 south to I-88 east

[webny99]

Freeway/freeway example - I-81 south to I-88 east

Is this new? I recall I-88 being signed for Exit 6, which never made much sense as it required four turns including three left turns get to I-88 EB. Turning around via Exit 5 makes much more sense, although it doesn't seem to be signed consistently at the new roundabouts.

[vdeane]

Freeway/freeway example - I-81 south to I-88 east

Is this new? I recall I-88 being signed for Exit 6, which never made much sense as it required four turns including three left turns get to I-88 EB. Turning around via Exit 5 makes much more sense, although it doesn't seem to be signed consistently at the new roundabouts.

IIRC it's signed at both.

[webny99]

Freeway/freeway example - I-81 south to I-88 east

Is this new? I recall I-88 being signed for Exit 6, which never made much sense as it required four turns including three left turns get to I-88 EB. Turning around via Exit 5 makes much more sense, although it doesn't seem to be signed consistently at the new roundabouts.

IIRC it's signed at both.

Interestingly, Google suggests it's about 2-3 minutes faster to take NY 12/12A. I view it as more of a toss-up, especially with how congested Hinmans Corners can be and with Exit 5 no longer having signals.

[johndoe]

The Wisconsin example reminds me of these:
https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=23859.0
https://images.app.goo.gl/kjioNjcze69fbu2L6

[GaryA]

It's in Texas, but not a normal "Texas U-Turn" -- traffic on I-20 that wants to go EB on I-10 must merge into the I-10 WB mainline and take a left exit that U-turns onto I-10 EB before the I-20 split.  (Traffic from I-10 WB to I-20 could also follow this path, but they do have a direct ramp.)  https://maps.app.goo.gl/w7waAcSzSYJb2YJt6

[webny99]

It's in Texas, but not a normal "Texas U-Turn" -- traffic on I-20 that wants to go EB on I-10 must merge into the I-10 WB mainline and take a left exit that U-turns onto I-10 EB before the I-20 split.  (Traffic from I-10 WB to I-20 could also follow this path, but they do have a direct ramp.)  https://maps.app.goo.gl/w7waAcSzSYJb2YJt6

What's interesting here is that they installed a separate ramp for I-10 WB to I-20 EB when that movement could also be made from the U-turn ramp, much like the I-287/NJ 17 example mentioned early in the thread.

[ErmineNotyours]

I went on a long-delayed trip to San Francisco a few months ago, and thought I had missed all the California button copy signs, until I saw the first ones halfway down I-505.  I really got a chance to see them walking from Fisherman's Warf to Larkspur, and saw this one on the freeway entrance returning from the viewing area north of the Golden Gate Bridge.  They must have figured most of the people taking the viewing area would want to drive back to town so the biggest sign at the northbound 101 entrance was instructions on how to do that.

Also, the sign is missing on the most recent Street View, but by some miracle it was restored when I visited it.  Here's the next most recent Street View: https://maps.app.goo.gl/sEyuj9hqynxsHtEf6

[kphoger]

It's in Texas, but not a normal "Texas U-Turn" -- traffic on I-20 that wants to go EB on I-10 must merge into the I-10 WB mainline and take a left exit that U-turns onto I-10 EB before the I-20 split.  (Traffic from I-10 WB to I-20 could also follow this path, but they do have a direct ramp.)  https://maps.app.goo.gl/w7waAcSzSYJb2YJt6

What's interesting here is that they installed a separate ramp for I-10 EB to I-20 EB when that movement could also be made from the U-turn ramp, much like the I-287/NJ 17 example mentioned early in the thread.

I-10 WB ?

[webny99]

It's in Texas, but not a normal "Texas U-Turn" -- traffic on I-20 that wants to go EB on I-10 must merge into the I-10 WB mainline and take a left exit that U-turns onto I-10 EB before the I-20 split.  (Traffic from I-10 WB to I-20 could also follow this path, but they do have a direct ramp.)  https://maps.app.goo.gl/w7waAcSzSYJb2YJt6

What's interesting here is that they installed a separate ramp for I-10 EB to I-20 EB when that movement could also be made from the U-turn ramp, much like the I-287/NJ 17 example mentioned early in the thread.

I-10 WB ?

Whoops, fixed.

[webny99]

Thought of this thread because of an unsigned freeway access U-turn movement that's suddenly relevant here in the Rochester area:

Construction has now started on I-490 to replace the Erie Canal and Kreag Rd bridges just west (north) of Exit 27. As part of this project, the EB off-ramp and WB on-ramp at Exit 27 are closed. For EB traffic, the off-ramp being closed isn't much of a problem: Exit 28 is just a mile away, and getting off there and turning right adds a minute or two at most. But for traffic that usually enters I-490 WB at Exit 27, it's a different story, because the Exit 28 on-ramp is only accessible from NY 96 NB. There's no direct access from NY 96 SB to I-490. So for the duration of this project, traffic needing to head west (north) on I-490 that usually uses Exit 27 has two options: wind their way up to Exit 26 on local roads (which could easily add five minutes or more) or head down NY 96 SB to the next stoplight (Woodcliff Dr), pull a U-turn there, and enter I-490 using the direct ramp from NY 96 NB.


From my post in the New York thread:

Back when they closed Exit 27 to replace the ramp bridge, NYSDOT actually added a temporary left turn from NY 96 SB to the Exit 28 on-ramp to allow that whole area access to I-490 instead of detouring to Exit 26. Sadly, I doubt they'll do that this time because it'll only feed more traffic into the lane closure bottleneck, but it would help the traffic in the Basin. Unless people just start U-turning at the Woodcliff instead, which is the smart thing to do if the Basin is backed up, but I doubt many people will be intuitive enough to think of it.

[pderocco]

This is on an off-ramp from I-90 in Boston:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/fmJ3Am4hV6Due1XW7

It isn't signalized, and it really just functions as a well-advertised U-turn on the freeway. I've never understood its purpose, since you have to go quite far upstream to find a WB on-ramp, and even further to find an EB off-ramp.

[Rothman]

This is on an off-ramp from I-90 in Boston:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/fmJ3Am4hV6Due1XW7

It isn't signalized, and it really just functions as a well-advertised U-turn on the freeway. I've never understood its purpose, since you have to go quite far upstream to find a WB on-ramp, and even further to find an EB off-ramp.

Its purpose looks pretty obvious to me.  It just allows people to head back to Boston.

[fwydriver405]

This is on an off-ramp from I-90 in Boston:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/fmJ3Am4hV6Due1XW7

It isn't signalized, and it really just functions as a well-advertised U-turn on the freeway. I've never understood its purpose, since you have to go quite far upstream to find a WB on-ramp, and even further to find an EB off-ramp.

IIRC, the WB-EB U-Turn ramp at Exit 131 is mostly for vehicles from Logan Airport, the Seaport District, and South Boston to access the Copley, Prudential, and Back Bay areas more easily then having to utilise local streets, and the reverse case is also true as well.

Source 1, 2 (page 3 on this PDF), and the below post from the Massachusetts milepost exit numbering conversion contract thread:

I'm questioning how useful the "U-turn to Boston sign" even is. At that point very close to Boston, almost all vehicles probably passed through Boston already, unless there's someone out there that didn't pay attention to anything on their surroundings at all until the U-turn sign and is like "oh no, I missed Boston's skyline".

The primary reason MassDOT cited for creating the U-Turn was to help buses, taxis and ride sharing vehicles from Logan Airport access the Copley Square/Prudential exit instead of taking local streets to get there. The alternative was to build a new interchange westbound which to them cost prohibitive.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Minnesota has 3 examples of this that I know of:

1. US 8 traffic to northbound I-35 in Forest Lake is directed to exit at Broadway St and return to NB 35 from that interchange.

2. 36th St traffic to southbound US 169 in St. Louis Park is directed to take US 169 north to Minnetonka Blvd, exit, and return to southbound 169 from that interchange.

3. TH 93 southbound traffic to northbound US 169 near Le Sueur is directed to the interchange where 93 leaves 169, exit, and return to northbound 169 from that interchange.

[pderocco]

This is on an off-ramp from I-90 in Boston:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/fmJ3Am4hV6Due1XW7

It isn't signalized, and it really just functions as a well-advertised U-turn on the freeway. I've never understood its purpose, since you have to go quite far upstream to find a WB on-ramp, and even further to find an EB off-ramp.

IIRC, the WB-EB U-Turn ramp at Exit 131 is mostly for vehicles from Logan Airport, the Seaport District, and South Boston to access the Copley, Prudential, and Back Bay areas more easily then having to utilise local streets, and the reverse case is also true as well.

Source 1, 2 (page 3 on this PDF), and the below post from the Massachusetts milepost exit numbering conversion contract thread:

I'm questioning how useful the "U-turn to Boston sign" even is. At that point very close to Boston, almost all vehicles probably passed through Boston already, unless there's someone out there that didn't pay attention to anything on their surroundings at all until the U-turn sign and is like "oh no, I missed Boston's skyline".

The primary reason MassDOT cited for creating the U-Turn was to help buses, taxis and ride sharing vehicles from Logan Airport access the Copley Square/Prudential exit instead of taking local streets to get there. The alternative was to build a new interchange westbound which to them cost prohibitive.

That makes sense, given the paucity of ramps on the eastern part of the Mass Pike Extension.

But they're going to have to go through a few traffic lights after the Allston Multimodal Project is built.