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Absurd road junctions and so on

PostPosted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 2:08 pm
by Ivan
Anyone ever encoutered crazy or dangerous road junctions...

Photos are welcom

Let's start with some really nasty ones in Italy

Autostrada #3, Ercolano branchoff Google maps. 180 degree turn from standstill onto a 130kmh road. When i drove it, it was even worse than the google maps photo due to roadworks

Another one in italy, but i cant find it on google maps... I think it was also the A3 but it could have been the A30 too. Imagina a 2x3 highway, with a local branchoff, WHITOUT ANY OVERPASS, just turn to the left and cross the 3+ lanes. Oh and the sign was just 100m before the exit. All on a 130kmh road

Re: Absurd road junctions and so on

PostPosted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 9:30 pm
by machineman9
Just when your day couldn't get much worse... The Clover and Rotary Supercollider roads...

Clicky

Re: Absurd road junctions and so on

PostPosted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 4:00 am
by eno
If you want extreme junctions ........ try this for size.

Swindon's Magic roundabout.
http://picdit.wordpress.com/2008/09/13/ ... undabouts/

Here's one from Glasgow, Scotland

Junction 15 on the M8

Note the direction arrows on the orange link roads next to the A804 and 15 tags. These are the links between Springburn road and the OUTSIDE (or fast lane) lanes of both carriageways. Although the speed limit on this particular stretch of the motorway is 50mph (80kph) it is still rather disconcerting to even the most experienced driver.

Re: Absurd road junctions and so on

PostPosted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 4:20 am
by C
If you want extreme junctions ........ try this for size.

Swindon's Magic roundabout.
http://picdit.wordpress.com/2008/09/13/ ... undabouts/


Despite it's visual absurdity, it actually works quite well though, particularly for regular users. As most of the traffic only comes from three of the roads joining it, you can sometimes get round it exceptionally easily!

As for the UK, plenty of absurd entry slip roads and carriageway-crossing exits on to the A1, which shows its age. Thankfully they've started replacing these with more modern junctions.

Re: Absurd road junctions and so on

PostPosted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 4:37 am
by expat
If you want extreme junctions ........ try this for size.

Swindon's Magic roundabout.
http://picdit.wordpress.com/2008/09/13/ ... undabouts/


Despite it's visual absurdity, it actually works quite well though, particularly for regular users. As most of the traffic only comes from three of the roads joining it, you can sometimes get round it exceptionally easily!

As for the UK, plenty of absurd entry slip roads and carriageway-crossing exits on to the A1, which shows its age. Thankfully they've started replacing these with more modern junctions.


The trick to the Magic Roundabout is to go around it in an anti clockwise direction. Everyone cues to drive around it clockwise because that is the direction you drive around a roundabout, however, as long as you go around each individual roundabout clockwise nothing says you can't drive around anticlockwise from roundabout to roundabout, getting across the roundabout in roundabout a quicker time than the rest in the cue ;D

Matt

Re: Absurd road junctions and so on

PostPosted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 4:40 am
by Fozzer
Many years ago when I used to visit my Daughter at Swindon, I often encountered Swindon's "Magic Roundabout", and after prior warnings/instructions, and a couple of successful attempts, I actually found it quite a good design.

All the drivers had to do, was to make sure to give way to traffic approaching on their right-hand side in each section, whilst negotiating their way through its Maze!

Progress was surprisingly speedy!

Traffic lights stop the traffic!....Roundabouts keep traffic moving... :)...!

Paul... :)...!

Marvel at this!...>>> http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h ... CCUQ9QEwBw

Re: Absurd road junctions and so on

PostPosted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 5:14 am
by Craig.
spagghetti junction. I once got lost in there for a week. ;D

Re: Absurd road junctions and so on

PostPosted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 5:59 am
by CD.
There's also a variant of Swindon's magic roundabout on Heathrow's perimeter road outside Hatton Cross underground station. That really is a free for all.. those airport trucks and buses take NO prisoners.

Re: Absurd road junctions and so on

PostPosted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 7:15 am
by C
If you want extreme junctions ........ try this for size.

Swindon's Magic roundabout.
http://picdit.wordpress.com/2008/09/13/ ... undabouts/


Despite it's visual absurdity, it actually works quite well though, particularly for regular users. As most of the traffic only comes from three of the roads joining it, you can sometimes get round it exceptionally easily!

As for the UK, plenty of absurd entry slip roads and carriageway-crossing exits on to the A1, which shows its age. Thankfully they've started replacing these with more modern junctions.


The trick to the Magic Roundabout is to go around it in an anti clockwise direction. Everyone cues to drive around it clockwise because that is the direction you drive around a roundabout, however, as long as you go around each individual roundabout clockwise nothing says you can't drive around anticlockwise from roundabout to roundabout, getting across the roundabout in roundabout a quicker time than the rest in the cue ;D

Matt


I disagree slightly; the trick to Swindon's magic roundabout is to go "northside" - ie closest to the football ground. So, approaching from the town centre go clockwise, from the eastern approaches, go anticlockwise. Approaching from the south? Tough! You're stuck! ;D

Re: Absurd road junctions and so on

PostPosted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 9:03 am
by Sir_Crashalot
All nice and well, magic roundabout and such, but feast your eyes on this piece of marvelous engineering.

Four stories high, 2 crossing highways (A12 crossing above the A4), 8 off ramps and 8 on ramps.

Where to go?

However you want to drive to The Hague here in Holland you have to pass it.

Crash ;)

Re: Absurd road junctions and so on

PostPosted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 10:18 am
by C
All nice and well, magic roundabout and such, but feast your eyes on this piece of marvelous engineering.

Four stories high, 2 crossing highways (A12 crossing above the A4), 8 off ramps and 8 on ramps.

Where to go?

However you want to drive to The Hague here in Holland you have to pass it.

Crash ;)


We have several where our various motorways meet our M25  around London (M3, M23, M1, M4, M40, M11). :)

Re: Absurd road junctions and so on

PostPosted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 1:02 pm
by Hagar
Suicide Island in Coventry is quite an experience. :o
http://www.cbrd.co.uk/badjunctions/junction.php?id=34

Re: Absurd road junctions and so on

PostPosted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 1:07 pm
by C
Suicide Island in Coventry is quite an experience. :o
http://www.cbrd.co.uk/badjunctions/junction.php?id=34


I've never had too many issues - the traffic lights and lane markings seem to have improved. I suspect the traffic lights have removed some of the need to avoid "suicide"! :)

Re: Absurd road junctions and so on

PostPosted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 2:50 pm
by Plugpennyshadow
Not to mention the fact that yall folks not only drive on the wrong side of the road, but you SIT on the wrong side of the car to do it!

I just couldnt resist!  It was just TO tempting...Beat me, please?

Re: Absurd road junctions and so on

PostPosted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 2:54 pm
by Plugpennyshadow
GACK!

That Swindon thingie?  What the hell?  I'll never complain about Memphis or Dallas rush hour EVER again!

I would just get stuck driving round and round and round and eventually die of a burst bladder or colon on that Swindon thing!

GAC!