Awesome Pictures of Crazy Intersections and Interchanges

In this post we showcased awesome pictures of the most incredible crazy intersection and interchanges around the globe.

There are two different types of junction between roads. Interchanges are junctions where roads pass above or below one another, preventing a single point of conflict by utilizing grade separation and slip roads. The terms motorway junction and highway junction typically refer to this layout. Intersections do not use grade separation (they are at-grade) and roads cross directly. Forms of these junction types include Roundabouts and traffic circles, priority junctions, and junctions controlled by traffic lights or signals.

1) Harry Pregerson Interchange, Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles’s Harry Pregerson Interchange is among the most complex junctions in the United States.  The towering structure includes metro lines, high occupancy vehicle lanes,  and even houses a metro station, all contributing to its status as one of the most daunting, but impressive interchanges in the country.

2) Taganskaya Square, Moscow

Taganskaya Square sits at the south-eastern corner of Garden Ring, a large, circular avenue that runs around the centre of Moscow.  Traffic on Garden Ring is usually very heavy, but things get particularly bad as you approach the square’s complex junction of roads, making it a site of major headache for Russian drivers.

3) The ‘magic roundabout’, Swindon, England

The UK is full of roundabouts, but the ‘magic roundabout’ in Swindon, England is a little different.  The junction consists of five mini-roundabouts arranged around one larger circle; traffic around the inner roundabout  flows counter-clockwise, while traffic runs clockwise around the five mini-roundabouts and the outer loop.  Confused?  So are many visitors, but proficient locals have the complex system running like clockwork.

4) Shibuya Crossing, Shibuya, Tokyo

The famous intersection outside Shibuya station in Tokyo, Japan, is one of the busiest in the world, and can be an intense experience for first-time visitors.  When the lights go red, traffic stops completely as hundreds, even thousands of pedestrian cross from every direction.  An incredible sight to see on busy afternoons.

5) Hanger Lane Gyratory , London, England

A poll done by England’s Daily Mail found the Hanger Lane Gyratory System in London to be the most feared junction in Britain, and it’s easy to see why.  It’s a large and complex roundabout, and many of its markings are deeply misleading, making it difficult to manage for drivers who are inexperienced in the junction.

6) Puxi Viaduct, Shanghai, China

Puxi Viaduct, the spiralling interchange leading to Nanpu Bridge in Shanghai, is one of the world’s largest.  While the most common type of interchange has four levels, Puxi Viaduct has six, and its incredible construction makes it a marvel of engineering.

7) Gravelly Hill Interchange, Birmingham, UK

Birmingham’s Gravelly Hill Interchange  is a large and complex junction, covering 30 acres and serving 18 different routes.  The interchange is thought to be the first to be called a ‘Spaghetti Junction’, a name it still maintains among locals.  Drivers in the UK ranked the interchange as the second scariest in Britain.

8) Central Motorway Junction, New Zealand

New Zealand’s Central Motorway Junction is the point where two of the country’s busiest highways meet.  The exceedingly complicated junction carries around 200,000 vehicles each day, making it one of the busiest stretches of road in the country.

9) Avenida 9 de Julio, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Avenida 9 de Julio is one of the widest roads in the world, with as many as nine lanes running in each direction.  As a result, turning on to the road from any of the intersections along its 1 kilometre stretch can be a daunting task, particularly in the area around the road’s centre obelisk.

10) Arc de Triomphe Circle, Paris, France

The famous Arc du Triomphe in Paris sits in the centre of a large roundabout where 12 streets meet, making it an intimidating drive for many visiting motorists.  Compounding the problem is the fact that the roundabout has very little in the way of markings, making it a free-for-all for the brave drivers willing to enter the space.

(Via: http://autos.sympatico.ca)


Comments

One response to “Awesome Pictures of Crazy Intersections and Interchanges”

  1. Gravelly Hill Interchange, Birmingham, UK is the best!

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