Each of us sooner or later finds ourselves in a situation in an unfamiliar city where it is completely unclear where and how to go next. Here are the 10 most confusing road junctions in the world.
1. Interchange of I-710 and I-105, Los Angeles, California, USA
Coordinates: 33o 54’46.30”N, 118o 10’48.33”W
The denouements in London, Rome and Paris are mere children compared to this monster in Los Angeles. Make the wrong lane and in five minutes you will find yourself in God knows where. Above each entrance there are a lot of signs and symbols that are extremely difficult to understand.
2. A9 Junction, Shanghai, China
Coordinates: 31o 7’15.17”N, 121o 23’5.50”E
In China, it is not easy for a foreigner to drive a car; it is easier to take a taxi. However, this is still no guarantee against stress: Chinese taxi drivers are real daredevils. Eyewitnesses say that sometimes they are even ready to drive sideways onto dividing concrete blocks in order to avoid a traffic jam or the scene of an accident.
3. The Magic Roundabout, Swindon, Wilts, UK
Coordinates: 51о 33’46.36”N, 1о 46’17.10”W
This ending is called magical, but the magic here is somehow evil. The merging of six roads forms a tight interweaving of traffic rings around the islands. Around the small islands the movement goes clockwise, and around the large central one - vice versa.
4. Taganskaya Square, Moscow, Russia
Coordinates: 55o 44’28.54”N, 37o 39’14.64”E
For a first-time visitor, car traffic in this place seems like complete chaos. Several roads of six or more lanes each converge here, every centimeter of the area is filled with cars, there are no signs, and it seems that no one is paying attention to the traffic lights.
5. Place Charles de Gaulle (Place des Stars), Paris, France
Coordinates: 48o 52’25.46”N, 2o 17’42.49”E
The picture shown, taken early in the morning, is deceptive: during the day, and especially during rush hours, it is pure hell going on here. There are no signs defining road priorities, and there are no traffic lights either, so everyone crosses the square as they please. Minor accidents happen here at least every hour.
6. Julio Avenida 9, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Coordinates: 34o 36’13.16”S, 58o 22’53.54”W
Argentina gave the world racing legend Juan Manuel Fangio, as well as millions of his ardent fans and followers who filled the country's roads. The national thirst for speed and risk is best seen on this street, the widest in the world. You need nerves of steel to decide to cross all of its fourteen lanes filled with cars of hot Argentine guys.
7. Denouement Tom Moreland, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Coordinates: 33o 53’31.27”N, 84o 15’33.29”W
Locals simply call this huge interchange “spaghetti.” It was built two years after the Birmingham Interchange (second to last on our list). Each entrance very soon splits into two roads, so you have to think very quickly here. One wrong turn and you'll have to cut for miles to finally turn around and get on the right road.
8. Interchange between Highways 9 and 6, Tokyo, Japan
Coordinates: 35o 50’9.45”N, 139o 51’33.48”E
In this denouement, the devil himself will break his leg, and here also all the signs are made exclusively in Japanese. The design of the interchange itself also adds problems: for greater seismic stability, sections of the overpasses are connected by large “joints” made of dense rubber. If a car enters such a rubbery area, it begins to bounce and jerk in a very unusual way, which does not help you at all in finding the right road.
9. Gravelly Hill Interchange, Birmingham, UK
Coordinates: 52o 30’39.63”N, 1o 51’53.53”W
Like the Atlanta interchange, this one is also nicknamed "spaghetti" by Birmingham residents. According to eyewitnesses, after many years of living in this city, many people still get confused in this noodle of overpasses, and signs and indicators seem to only add confusion to the movement along this interchange.
10. London Circle, Canberra, Australia
Coordinates: 35o 18’30.78”S, 149o 07’25.62”E
These are road rings around the Australian Parliament building complex. The inconvenience here is that getting to the center is a non-trivial task. You chose the wrong lane - and it will take a lot of time and gasoline to correct this mistake. According to the “tradition” of such places, road signs here only confuse drivers.
Surely, at least once in your life you have found yourself in a situation where, finding yourself in an unfamiliar city, you had absolutely no idea where to turn or where to go next. We present to your attention the 10 most confusing intersections in the world..
Thanks to the “Miracle of the 21st century” Internet technologies and numerous near-Earth satellites, we are pleased to present you with pictures of the ten most confusing intersections with exact location coordinates. You can observe these winding intersecting routes yourself using the well-known Google Earth program. So...
№1
I-710 and I-105 interchanges
Location: Los Angeles, California, USA.
Coordinates: 33o 54’46.30”N, 118o 10’48.33”W
The Los Angeles interchange is one of the most intricate in the world. Wrong lane? Welcome to another state! Figuratively speaking, of course, but the distance will be decent. There are a lot of signs with arrows and inscriptions hung above each crossing, but it’s just a matter of not getting confused...
№2
Junction A9
Location: Shanghai, China.
Coordinates: 31o 7’15.17”N, 121o 23’5.50”E
As you can see, in Shanghai it is better to take a taxi, especially if you are here for the first time. By the way, regarding taxi drivers, there is an opinion that they are there “without a king in their heads” - they strive to get around.
№3
Magic Runabout
Location: Swindon, Wilts, UK
Coordinates: 51о 33’46.36”N, 1о 46’17.10”W
It would be a stretch to call this ending “magical,” but rather unfortunate. The interweaving of six roads forms a concentration of traffic around the islands, and around the small ones - traffic goes clockwise, and around the large one - counterclockwise.
№4
Taganskaya Square
Location: Moscow, Russia.
Coordinates: 55o 44’28.54”N, 37o 39’14.64”E
Fourth place in the “hot ten” is occupied by the intersection of Moscow. Traffic along the six-lane roads of this “interweaving” would be mildly called chaotic. The chaos in this place is such that it’s scary to even imagine, let alone find yourself - no signs, no signs, go wherever you want. The border is divided into complete automobile anarchy by traffic lights installed here and there, although few people pay attention to them.
№5
Square of the Star (Charles De Gaulle)
Location: Paris, France
Coordinates: 48o 52’25.46”N, 2o 17’42.49”E
The satellite image was taken early in the morning and at first glance this place does not seem so unhappy, but if you find yourself on the Square during rush hours, in the late afternoon, you will see that complete chaos is happening here! The most surprising thing is that the French chose to save money and not install any identification signs, designations and even traffic lights at this intersection (!). The crossing of the square is carried out in any order. It is not surprising that accidents occur on Charles De Gaulle Square every hour.
№6
Julio Avenida 9
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Coordinates: 34o 36’13.16”S, 58o 22’53.54”W
This street is considered the widest in the world! It is not surprising that tens/hundreds of accidents occur here every day. And why all? The hot Argentinean blood of local drivers does not allow them to move calmly and evenly along the 14-lane road.
№7
Denouement Tom Moreland
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Coordinates: 33o 53’31.27”N, 84o 15’33.29”W
Already the second most chaotic and confusing ending in the United States. Drivers even gave Tom Moreland the nickname “spaghetti” for its peculiar shape. The uniqueness of this junction is that each entrance splits into 2 more roads. So, if you make a wrong turn, you will “enjoy” a ten-kilometer detour.
№8
Junction 9 and 6 Highway
Location: Tokyo, Japan.
Coordinates: 35o 50’9.45”N, 139o 51’33.48”E
Would you like to drive around Tokyo by yourself? Think several times about how this could turn out. The round junction cannot be blamed for the lack of signs and signs, but one can blame them for their small print and inconvenient location. Besides, if you don’t know Japanese, consider that they don’t exist for you at all. It is impossible not to note the “unique”, unlike anything else design of the interchange. Sections of the overpasses (apparently for better stability) are connected by large, dense rubber partitions. Having entered the rubber section of the interchange, you will undoubtedly experience great “pleasure” from the trip, which, in turn, will help you “correctly” (and most importantly, without unnecessary irritation) choose the path you need.
№9
Gravelly Hill
Location: Birmingham, UK.
Coordinates: 52o 30’39.63”N, 1o 51’53.53”W
This interchange bears the well-known name to us (identical to the interchange in Atlanta) “spaghetti”. Local residents admit that after many years of passing through the junction every day, they still get confused in the numerous forks of the “noodle-shaped” chaos.
№10
London Circle
Location: Canberra, Australia.
Coordinates: 35o 18’30.78”S, 149o 07’25.62”E
The circle-shaped interchange encloses the Australian Parliament building complex. Unlike all of the above endings, the final TOP-10 stood out due to its special construction principle. In this case, if you confuse the route and drive in the wrong lane, then you will have to spend the lion's share of gasoline, nerves and time, going around a huge circle. Therefore, getting to the center, to the place you need, is a whole problem that requires increased attention. The only traditional thing about this junction is that the signs installed on it only interfere with drivers and do not contain any informative function.
To summarize, I would like to note that, according to the editors of the site, there are countless similar interchanges, which very clearly emphasizes the imperfection of urban communications in every country in the world. The only good thing is that the accusation against Russia (about “fools and roads”) can be addressed to any other country, if desired...
Unlike standard intersections, a traffic interchange allows for the free flow of vehicles by allowing them to bypass intersections and traffic lights. But sometimes the endings can be extremely complex and consist of several levels. Below is a list of the ten most difficult road junctions in the world.
10 South Bay Interchange
South Bay Interchange is a massive interchange in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was built in the late 90s as part of the “Big Dig” project.
9 A4 and E70
A4 and E70 is a complex road junction located in Milan, Italy.
8 Xinzhuang interchange
Eighth on the list of the ten most difficult road junctions in the world is the Xinzhuang interchange, located in Shanghai, China.
7 Higashiosaka Loop
In seventh position is Higashiosaka Loop, a road transport hub located in Osaka, Japan.
6 Interchange of I-695 and I-95
Sixth place is occupied by the Interchange of I-695 and I-95, a complex transport interchange located in Baltimore County, Maryland, USA.
5 Kennedy Interchange
Kennedy Interchange is a road junction located on the northeastern outskirts of the city of Louisville, Kentucky, USA. Its construction began in the spring of 1962 and was completed in 1964.
4 Judge Harry Pregerson Interchange
Judge Harry Pregerson Interchange is a transportation hub in Los Angeles, California, United States. It opened in 1993 and was named after federal judge Harry Pregerson.
3 Tom Moreland Interchange
Tom Moreland Interchange is a transportation interchange located northeast of Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It was built between 1983 and 1987 and named after Tom Moreland, one of the leading road construction specialists in the United States. The hub currently serves about 300,000 vehicles per day.
2 Gravelly Hill Interchange
Gravelly Hill Interchange is a complex road junction in Birmingham, England, better known by its nickname Spaghetti Junction. It was opened on May 24, 1972. It covers 12 hectares and includes 4 km of connecting roads.
1 Puxi Viaduct
Puxi Viaduct is a large, six-level road transport hub located in the historical center of Shanghai, China.
It became denser, traffic directions increasingly intersected, and the need arose to manage traffic flows. At first, traffic lights coped with the task, and then, as highways developed and the need to increase their capacity, road junctions were required. Now there are a huge number of them on all continents, but still among these intersections there are unique ones. That's what we'll talk about.
Gravelly Hill Interchange, Birmingham, UK
Thanks to this outcome, all the road intricacies of the planet received one succinct name - “a ball of spaghetti.” This is how Birmingham Evening Courier reporter Roy Smith described the Staffordshire Transport Hub project in 1965. The term has caught on, and now almost all more or less serious endings glorify Italian cuisine.
Judge Harry Pregerson Interchange, Los Angeles, USA
Judge Harry Pregerson Interchange, one of the most complex transportation hubs in the United States and the world, consists of 34 interchanges on five levels, one of which is occupied by a subway and transit bus route. More than 600,000 vehicles pass through the interchange every day.
What does the judge have to do with it? And despite the fact that Harry Pregerson, who was a federal judge in those years, is considered the father-parent of the denouement. If not for him, the numerous lawsuits that arose during the project would have stopped construction. Judge Harry is said to still be alive. He is 94 years old and lives in Los Angeles.
Springfield Interchange, Springfield, Virginia, USA
This interchange is one of the busiest road intersections in America. About half a million cars a day pass along it, including in the direction of the American capital Washington.
By the way, in relation to Springfield Interchange the name “mixing bowl” has stuck, and not some kind of “spaghetti”!
Oyamazaki Interchange, Osaka, Japan
The Oyamazaki transport hub is called . The fact is that before driving in the right direction, the driver has to make several circles, which ultimately disorients him completely.
Gate Tower Building, Osaka, Japan
The only overpass in the world that cuts a passage in a building at the level of the 4th-7th floors. Built in 1992. The road passes without touching the building. The building uses special technical solutions to protect it from noise and vibration.
The unique one makes it possible to distribute traffic flows in three directions and at the same time raise cars heading to the other side to the height level of the majestic cable-stayed bridge over the Huangpu River.
The huge intersection of Nanbei and Yanyan highways is located in Puxi, the historical center of Shanghai. This is one of the most complex transport interchanges in Asia, and throughout the world. The capacity of such an interchange is thousands of cars per hour. The bridges span six levels.
Porta Maggiore, Rome, Italy
More than once I had to pass through Porta Maggiore, in Russian - “Big Gate”. Luckily, by taxi. Every time I was surprised how the driver managed to find the right direction among the many arches and tram tracks.
Arc de Triomphe, Paris, France
Twelve streets converge here, and among them is the main Parisian avenue - the Champs Elysees. Traffic around the Arc de Triomphe is chaotic. If it weren’t for the French speech and the Eiffel Tower on the horizon, you would think that you were somewhere in Southeast Asia. There are no traffic lights. More precisely, there are, but they are all at the exit from the square to give way to pedestrians.
It’s also not easy to drive through Taganskaya Square. Twelve streets also adjoin Taganka, however, half of them lead traffic flows to the square, and the second half receive them.
1.Gravelly Hill Interchange A bit like spaghetti. This is the nickname given to this road system back in 1965 in an article describing the plan to build the Gravelly Hill Interchange. The term stuck, and now all major junctions are often called a “ball of spaghetti”. Gravelly Hill Interchange has been in existence since 1972 and is located in Birmingham, England.
2. Puxi Viaduct. This transport interchange is one of the largest in the world. It consists of six levels and handles thousands of cars per hour. An engineering marvel can be seen in Puxi, the historical center of Shanghai.
3. Tom Moreland Interchange. The amazingly symmetrical structure was created in 1987. Locals, like the British, call their transport interchange spaghetti. This road system is located in the state of Georgia, USA.
4. Judge Harry Pregerson Interchange. The interchange is located in California and more than 600,000 vehicles pass through the system every day. In 1996, the highway was awarded the title "Engineering Magic". Indeed, magic.
5. Kennedy Interchange. The interchange was built in 1964 and was named after the JFK memorial located nearby. Kennedy Interchange is located in Louisville, Kentucky.
6. Oyamazaki Interchange. This junction is famous for the fact that it completely disorients the driver: before driving in the right direction, you have to “cut circles” for a very long time. But, you must admit, it looks impressive. This amazing structure is located in Osaka, Japan.
7. But Oyamazaki Interchange is not the only engineering marvel in Osaka. Impressive and Gate Tower Building is the only road in the world that runs directly through the building. They say that the overpass does not disturb its inhabitants at all, and the owners of Oyamazaki Interchange even pay rent.
8. Nanpu Bridge is a roundabout that flows into a grand bridge over the Huangpu River. The total length of Nanpu Bridge is 8,346 meters. This structure was built in 1991 and is located in Shanghai.
