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

[authenticroadgeek]

Personally I find any spaghetti bowl pleasing xD

But seriously, what are the most original intersections you've ever seen?

[cl94]

The Albany circle stack. Insanely overbuilt, but it looks really nice from above.

And before somebody mentions Breezewood, it's not particularly original as it's far from the only place like that.

[Jardine]

Saw this old picture of the Autobahn.  Love this early attempt at an interchange.

[briantroutman]

^ Basically a standard partial cloverleaf with all ramps on the same side–with the exception of that little "I changed my mind"  lane bridging the off-ramp and on-ramp. A situation likes this exists at a number of partial cloverleafs (cloverleaves?) in California where a bus pad has been added between a pair of ramps, but besides those, does anyone know of any other interchanges where an unrestricted bypass lane connects the off-ramp to the on-ramp like that?

And before somebody mentions Breezewood, it's not particularly original as it's far from the only place like that.

While the basic premise of Breezewood (toll road doesn't connect with free Interstate, forces traffic to exit onto a surface street in order to make the connection) isn't very unique , I know of no other interchange that utilizes a one full trumpet, one three-quarter trumpet, and a bypassed mile-long portion of a former mainline alignment (which continues over ten miles further in abandonment) to connect two roads–and also veers across a disused trumpet along the way.

[wanderer2575]

Basically a standard partial cloverleaf with all ramps on the same side–with the exception of that little "I changed my mind"  lane bridging the off-ramp and on-ramp. A situation likes this exists at a number of partial cloverleafs (cloverleaves?) in California where a bus pad has been added between a pair of ramps, but besides those, does anyone know of any other interchanges where an restricted bypass lane connects the off-ramp to the on-ramp like that?

A little hard to tell in this Google Maps view (since it was made during bridge replacement) but eastbound I-94 at Woodward Avenue (M-1) in downtown Detroit has a quick and fairly sharp curve on the exit ramp to incorporate a re-entry lane.  I wonder if it was built as a pull-off for cops to sit and monitor traffic.  Road debris has accumulated over the years so nobody uses it.  I find it interesting that MDOT retained it, at least until the freeway is reconstructed, when the Woodward bridge was replaced last year.

https://goo.gl/maps/9W9aecMocYF2

MDOT also built a few Crash Investigation Sites on I-94 in metro Detroit several years ago, at least one or two of which allow motorists to return to the freeway.

https://goo.gl/maps/4SMbcZBszW72

[roadman65]

New Jersey has plenty that are still from the old 1930's era on some roads.   Heck, there are plenty of traffic circles still in use that were built several decades ago.

In Florida most interchanges in Orlando (the city) are still the same until the ultimate I-4 reconfigures them.

[jeffandnicole]

The most original I like is this one at 130 & 168. https://goo.gl/maps/DvZYnPsqt262  It requires left turning traffic to keep left of opposing thru traffic.

Based on historic aerials imagery, it was built between 1951 & 1956, and prior to that was an elongated jersey traffic circle.  On occasion, in some other state, they'll build something very similar to it, and in almost every news story it's written up as "This has never been done before".  But 6 decades ago, NJ, just outside of Camden, truly had the original.

[Rothman]

I don't know about original, but for some reason I always like the totally elevated traffic light at I-535/I-35/US 53 in East Duluth:

https://www.google.com/maps/@46.764681,-92.1239102,120m/data=!3m1!1e3

[1995hoo]

I don't know whether it's "original" or "unique," but I've always found the interchange between I-395 and King Street in Alexandria, Virginia, to be a rather different layout that works pretty well. I guess the best description would be a modified cloverleaf that eliminates the weave areas.

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8346395,-77.0975806,887m/data=!3m1!1e3

[SignGeek101]

Confusion corner, here in Winnipeg:

https://goo.gl/maps/nCq2iL8A98w

Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confusion_Corner


Northbound Osborne St approaching 'Confusion Corner' by Sign Geek, on Flickr

[pumpkineater2]

I don't know if this is anything special, but I think the intersection of US-60, 35th ave. and Indian School road in Phoenix is pretty interesting:
https://goo.gl/maps/2Q3EeudHoYR2

[roadman65]

I actually find the Seven Corners intersection near Falls Church, VA to be interesting.  Yeah, I know some of you who live near it find it a nightmare unless you are on US 50, but the way all the streets come together is interesting.

[noelbotevera]

The High Five, because now that the Texpress lanes in there turns it into confusion. I love confusion with interchanges (I created a large spaghetti bowl in Cities: Skylines and even I have no idea where the ramps go).

[empirestate]

Personally I find any spaghetti bowl pleasing xD

But seriously, what are the most original intersections you've ever seen?

Just to clarify, you mean the most creative or inventive designs for intersections (and interchanges)? (As opposed to the oldest ones still in service.)

[thenetwork]

Personally, I like the huge I-96/I-275/I-696/M-5 (nee M-102, nee Bus-96) interchange in Novi. Just seeing how it changed over the decades when it pretty much was when 1 freeway was added at a time.

Another interchange which intrigues me is the junction of I-70 and I-77 in Cambridge, OH, which was the largest interchange in the world as late as 1969 according to the ODOT State Highway Map.  The "helix" in the middle of the "diamond" looks graceful from above:

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9970842,-81.5595985,1279m/data=!3m1!1e3

[renegade]

I-70 and I-77 is similar to I-96/US-23 near Brighton, MI, at least before it was reconfigured ...

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.5249372,-83.7537886,1690m/data=!3m1!1e3

[jakeroot]

The 405/520 interchange north of Bellevue, Washington is decently unique, though not for the right reasons. One of the heaviest directions could use a flyover, instead of the woefully inadequate loop currently in place (WB to SB). Some directional ramps for the 405 express lanes could help as well. Props to WSDOT for winding the NB to WB ramp back and forth all over the place, though -- it's as fun to drive as it would seem to be.

[peterj920]

The I-41/Watertown Plank Road interchange in Wauwatosa, WI.

https://www.google.com/maps/@43.0453777,-88.0358245,18z/data=!3m1!1e3

[wanderer2575]

The I-94/M-10 interchange in downtown Detroit is totally obsolete by modern design standards, but still looks graceful from above.  I've never seen another interchange use left-hand exits and entrances to this extent.

https://goo.gl/maps/DeYLo1Si7q82

The Van Dyke Avenue/18 1/2 Mile Road/M-53 interchange in Sterling Heights.  Hold on tight when driving the ramp from the roundabout to northbound M-53.  This interchange is not that old (built within the last decade) and I'm surprised the design passed muster.

https://goo.gl/maps/aDn9tWRTrdx

[1995hoo]

I actually find the Seven Corners intersection near Falls Church, VA to be interesting.  Yeah, I know some of you who live near it find it a nightmare unless you are on US 50, but the way all the streets come together is interesting.

Heh, I thought about mentioning that one but decided my comment would be so profanity-laden that it'd be better to let someone else mention it. 

[roadman65]

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Myrtle+Beach,+SC/@33.7396863,-78.9540016,612m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x890068953b552101:0xbc0fb115b5d09618!6m1!1e1

Speaking of original I do not think this one will ever be copied

[cl94]

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Myrtle+Beach,+SC/@33.7396863,-78.9540016,612m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x890068953b552101:0xbc0fb115b5d09618!6m1!1e1

Speaking of original I do not think this one will ever be copied

Except it copied an interchange in metro Detroit. This interchange was nearly identical before it became a SPUI. This site has a satellite image of the old one.

[Revive 755]

For intersection, I'm sticking with the bridgeless single point in Topeka, KS:  Aerial view.

[roadman65]

I am waiting for the day New Jersey comes in with one like that using four jughandles at each corner of the intersection.

I cannot see NJ using the full SPUI's full time in addition to the the NJ 133 and NJ 33 intersection in East Windsor, NJ.  I for sure do not see NJDOT adopting a DDI either, unless someone in Trenton decided that its time for a change recently.

[cl94]

I am waiting for the day New Jersey comes in with one like that using four jughandles at each corner of the intersection.

You mean an at-grade cloverleaf?  Toms River