The most difficult interchange in the world. The most complex road junctions in the world that you should know about

Each of us sooner or later finds himself in an unfamiliar city in a situation where it is completely unclear where and how to go further. Here are the 10 most confusing road junctions in the world.

1. Interchange between I-710 and I-105, Los Angeles, California, USA

Coordinates: 33o 54’46.30”N, 118o 10’48.33”W

Interchanges in London, Rome and Paris are just children compared to this monster in Los Angeles. Wrong lane - and in five minutes you will find yourself in the devil knows where. Each entrance is hung with a mass of signs and symbols, which are extremely difficult to understand.

2. Junction A9, 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 by himself, 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 separating concrete blocks in order to bypass a traffic jam or an accident site.

3. The Magic Roundabout, Swindon, Wilts, UK

Coordinates: 51o 33’46.36”N, 1o 46’17.10”W

This denouement is called magical, but the magic here is somehow evil. The confluence of six roads forms a tight interlacing 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 to be complete chaos. Several roads converge here with six or more lanes each, every centimeter of the area is filled with cars, there are no signs, and it seems that no one is looking at the traffic lights.

5. Place Charles de Gaulle (Place of the Star), Paris, France

Coordinates: 48o 52’25.46”N, 2o 17’42.49”E

This early morning shot is misleading: during the day, and especially during peak hours, it's a living hell. There are no signs to prioritize the roads, 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 the legend of racing Juan Manuel Fangio, as well as millions of his zealous fans and followers who flooded the roads of the country. The national thirst for speed and risk is best seen on this street, the widest in the world. It takes nerves of steel to dare to cross all fourteen of its lanes filled with cars of hot Argentinean guys.

7. Interchange Tom Moreland, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Coordinates: 33o 53’31.27”N, 84o 15’33.29”W

Locals call this huge interchange simply "spaghetti". It was built two years after the Birmingham junction (the penultimate one on our list). Each entrance very soon splits into two roads, so you have to think very quickly here. One wrong turn and you have to cut several miles to turn around and finally get on the right track.

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 designations are made exclusively in Japanese. The design of the interchange itself also adds problems: for greater seismic stability, sections of overpasses are connected by large “joints” made of dense rubber. If the car enters such a rubber area, it starts 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, for many years of living in this city, many are still confused in this noodles from overpasses, and the signs and signs seem to only confuse the movement along this interchange.

10 London Circle, Canberra, Australia

Coordinates: 35o 18’30.78”S, 149o 07’25.62”E

These are the road rings around the Australian Parliament building complex. The inconvenience here is that getting to the center is not a trivial task. They chose the wrong lane - and to correct this mistake, it will take a lot of time and gasoline. According to the "tradition" of such places, road signs here only confuse drivers.

Fortunately or unfortunately, there are no major road interchanges and complex intersections in Belarus. Everything is more or less logical and simple. Many say that it is difficult to pass the current ring on Bangalore Square in Minsk. Do you think so too? After getting acquainted with our today's rating, you will surely change your mind. We have compiled the ten most complex and confusing transport hubs in the world. This included large interchanges, strange intersections and even a checkpoint where motorists pay for the road.

"Magic Carousel" (Swindon, England)

The famous loop of rings in the British city of Swindon will make any tourist refuse to travel on this site. Drivers move clockwise here, overcoming alternately also small circular nodes (there are five of them). They say that the locals are accustomed to driving along this "carousel", but visitors do not always understand the first time how to drive along this bunch of rings.

The interchange was built in 1972 and immediately became one of the most confusing in the world. The large ring consists of five small ones with special markings on each of them. At the junction - 16 stop lines and no traffic lights. But there are small islands separating the streams. Mini-rings are marked exclusively with markings, which adds to the difficulties in overcoming this interchange. Many visitors to Swindon are put off by this place, although there are enthusiasts who decide to ride the Magic Carousel to test themselves.

Judge Harry Pregerson Name Interchange (Los Angeles, USA)

As planned, drivers should pass this interchange without stopping and having to give way to someone, regardless of where they are coming from and where they are going. By the way, there really are practically no traffic jams here, and if you know where to turn, then there should be no problems. This denouement was captured in one of the scenes of the film "Speed". Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock made their crazy bomb bus jump right here.

Roundabout around the Arc de Triomphe (Paris, France)

In the heart of Paris is one of the busiest roundabouts in the world. Of course, we are talking about the ring around the Arc de Triomphe. Accidents are common here. Some French insurance companies refuse to pay damages if an accident happened at this junction (the corresponding clause is written in the contract). Here 12 streets intersect at once (including one-way streets), including the central street of Paris - the Champs Elysees.

The situation is complicated by the lack of markings (conditionally there are about 8-9 lanes). The ring is not the main road, and the drivers actually decide for themselves who will go in what order. Throw in countless scooters that don't seem to care about traffic rules at all, pedestrian tourists and rental cars parked near the arch (Ferrari and Lamborghini are often rented here). In general, whoever traveled around Triumphalnaya does not laugh at Bangalore.

Meskel Square (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

Have you ever watched an anthill for more than one minute? Thousands of ants move within millimeters of each other at a relatively high speed and manage not to collide, each moving in its own direction. A similar movement is organized near Meskel Square in Addis Ababa. Motorists all over the world are amazed at how it is possible to pass this unregulated intersection without hitting a car, a cyclist, a motorcyclist or a pedestrian.

In fact, in many Asian countries, a similar driving style - honked, waved his hand and drove off. This is how they drive in Afghanistan, Vietnam and even Turkey. But the Ethiopian crossroads is striking in its scale. Eight lanes in one direction! Maybe put a traffic light there? Although, judging by the video, it will rather exacerbate the situation - city residents can easily do without flow regulation.

Runway crossing roadway (Gibraltar Airport)

The barrier at the intersection of the carriageway and the railway is a common thing for us. Drawbridges are not such a curiosity either, when motorists are forced to wait until the ship passes and the road is returned to its place again. But it is unlikely that an ordinary Belarusian driver has ever stood in a traffic jam because of a landing plane! Airports where the runway intersects with the usual, "civilian" roadway - a rarity. One of them is in Gibraltar.

When planes take off or land, the movement of cars and pedestrians is stopped here with the help of traffic lights and barriers. True, this is not a big problem: the airport serves only about three dozen flights a week. The reason for this strange decision is the tiny size of Gibraltar itself, which occupies the territory of a small peninsula with an area of 6.5 square meters. km.

Regulated intersection in the city center (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)

Remember the uncontrolled intersection in Addis Ababa? So, in the Vietnamese city of Ho Chi Minh City there is a regulated intersection, the traffic on which is no less impressive than on the Ethiopian square. Even in order to just drive straight onto the green, you need to try here, because those who turn left do not intend to wait until the flow of traffic ends (it is, in fact, endless).

In the video below - the central intersection of Ho Chi Minh City. The easiest way is to turn right there, but this does not guarantee that some scooter will not drive right under your wheels. When you see such a traffic situation, you understand why the Vietnamese love mopeds.

Kennedy Interchange (Louisville, USA)

Henry Ward, a member of the Louisville Chamber of Commerce, came up with the idea to build this interchange. Design began in 1958, and the first brick of the Spaghetti Crossing was laid in the spring of 1962. Later it became clear that the denouement was a big mistake. It is located in the very center of the city, which causes serious damage to its ecology. In addition, the hub is designed for a flow of 100,000 cars per day, and today up to 300,000 cars pass through here. Due to the intricate system of exits and arrivals, accidents often occur here (about 260 accidents per 100 million miles of total mileage along the interchange, which is 172% more than the average for the States). The US authorities have already allocated $1.1 billion for the reconstruction of this complex facility. Work should begin in 2017.

South Bay Interchange (Boston, USA)

Another American denouement, which often gets into the tops of the most confusing, is located in Boston. This overpass is part of the Great Boston Tunnel, which is an 8-lane highway (by the way, the most expensive project in US construction history). The design of the interchange began in the early 1990s, but the facility was completed only in 2003. Although, thanks to the competent sequence of construction, the work was carried out without serious damage to traffic.

Initially, road junctions were created in order to make life easier for the driver, and then something went wrong. Some of them have become so confusing that they seem to serve a different function, to confuse the driver. If we compare these denouements with Dante's circles of hell, then they are certainly the last, final circle. Below we talk about the most difficult road interchanges in the world. We look and rejoice that we are not there.

Gravelly Hill Interchange, Birmingham, United Kingdom

This interchange has a lot of nicknames, of which the most popular are "mixing bowl" and "spaghetti ball". The fact is that during the construction of this fork, the engineers did not take into account all the nuances and traffic on this stretch of road. Spaghetti Ball connects the A38 highway and the M6 highway. The name of the intersection was coined back in 1970 by journalist Roy Smith. The intersection has 18 traffic directions. To do this, built: 4 km of connecting roads, 6 levels of transport interchange, which is supported by 559 iron columns. Surprisingly, the height of some columns reaches almost 25 meters. The Gravelly Hill Interchange is by far the most difficult road junction in the UK.

Puxi Viaduct, Shanghai

The only cumulative interchange in the world. It has 6 levels, and its main feature is that part of the strips is separated from one strip and flows in the same amount into another strip.

Judge Harry Pregerson name denouement, Los Angeles, USA

The interchange is open to traffic in all directions, but also includes passenger roads, LA Metro railroads, and the Harbor Transit Road. It is from these components that such an impressive design is formed. It was opened in 1993 and named after federal judge Harry Pregerson. The interchange is considered one of the most difficult in the world.

Magic Roundabout, Swindon, UK

If you literally decipher the name of the interchange, then the “magic carousel”, like nothing else, fully describes what drivers feel. To the main turn of the interchange, where the traffic goes counterclockwise, five more small ones are attached, the direction of which is done clockwise. Locals say that tourists are put into a stupor by what they see.

Place Charles de Gaulle, Paris

12 roads from small streets go to the square where the Arc de Triomphe is located in Paris. And here the choice is up to the driver, how and where to move, who to let pass and who to go. The marking on the ring is simply missing. Interestingly, most insurance companies, when prescribing a car insurance contract, refuse to recognize accidents on the square as an insured event.

Meskel Square, Addis Ababa

At Meksel Square in the capital of Ethiopia, apparently, they decided that there was no need for traffic lights. Locals drive at their own risk, intuitively, but tourists are better off avoiding such road “surprises.” Each road has 8 lanes one way at a regular T-junction.

Interchange at Nanpu Bridge, Shanghai, China

It is not for nothing that the locals called this denouement the “Dragon's Tail”, it is very reminiscent of it! The ring-shaped interchange helps to divide the huge flow of cars into 3 ways. Until 1991, this bridge was the only one that connected the Pudong and Puxi areas. Even then, from 14,000 to 17,000 vehicles traveled across the bridge daily, and already in 2006, this figure increased to 120,000 vehicles per day.

10 transport hubs that not everyone dares to drive through

Kennedy Interchange, Louisville, USA © kyinbridges.com

Road junctions are very, very difficult. We often complain about the roads and transport hubs in our cities, but there are also such surprisingly intricate roads that not everyone is ready to ride! However, local residents have to do it. You can get acquainted with the ten most complex and confusing road junctions in the world. Large junctions, strange intersections, and even a checkpoint where motorists pay for the road got here.

"Magic Carousel" (Swindon, England)

Magic Carousel, Swindon, England © flickr.com/pyed_p1per

The interchange was built in 1972 and has become one of the most confusing in the world. The large ring consists of five small ones with special markings on each of them. At the junction - 16 stop lines and no traffic lights. Mini-rings are marked exclusively with markings, which adds to the difficulties in overcoming this interchange. Drivers move clockwise along this famous ring chain. Local residents are accustomed to driving along this "carousel", but visitors do not always understand the first time how to drive along this bunch of rings.

Judge Harry Pregerson Name Interchange (Los Angeles, USA)

Judge Harry Pregerson name denouement, Los Angeles, USA © flickr.com/badfysh99

If you have traveled to large unfamiliar cities using a navigator, then you probably know the situation when you accidentally miss the right turn at a large transport hub. At the Harry Pregerson Interchange in Los Angeles, missing your exit is like wasting half a day. The four-level structure was built in 1993 at the intersection of major freeways I-105 and I-110. Also, a metro line passes through the interchange (on the second level). This road crossing is considered the most difficult in the world. As planned, drivers should pass this interchange without stopping and having to give way to someone, regardless of where they are coming from and where they are going. This denouement was captured in one of the scenes of the film "Speed". Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock made their jump on the bomb bus right here.

Roundabout around the Arc de Triomphe (Paris, France)

In the heart of Paris is one of the busiest roundabouts in the world. We are talking about the ring around the Arc de Triomphe. Accidents are common here. Some French insurance companies refuse to pay damages if an accident happened at this junction (the corresponding clause is written in the contract). Here 12 streets intersect at once (including one-way streets), including the central street of Paris - the Champs Elysees. The situation is complicated by the absence of markings (conditionally, there are about 8-9 lanes here). The ring is not the main road, and the drivers actually decide for themselves who will go in what order.

Meskel Square (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

Motorists all over the world are amazed at how it is possible to pass this unregulated intersection without hitting a car, a cyclist, a motorcyclist or a pedestrian. In fact, in many Asian countries, a similar driving style - honked, waved his hand and drove off. This is how they drive in Afghanistan, Vietnam and even Turkey. But the Ethiopian crossroads is striking in its scale. Eight lanes in one direction!

Runway crossing roadway (Gibraltar Airport)

But it is unlikely that an ordinary driver has ever stood in a traffic jam because of a landing plane! Airports where the runway intersects with the usual, "civilian" roadway - a rarity. One of them is in Gibraltar. When planes take off or land, the movement of cars and pedestrians is stopped here with the help of traffic lights and barriers. True, this is not a big problem: the airport serves only about three dozen flights a week. The reason for this strange decision is the tiny size of Gibraltar itself, which occupies the territory of a small peninsula with an area of 6.5 square meters. km.

Regulated intersection in the city center (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)

The Vietnamese city of Ho Chi Minh has a regulated intersection. Even in order to just drive straight onto the green, you need to try here, because those who turn left do not intend to wait until the flow of traffic ends (it is, in fact, endless). The easiest way here is to turn right, but this does not guarantee that some scooter will not drive right under your wheels. When you see such a traffic situation, you understand why the Vietnamese love mopeds.

10 South Bay Interchange

South Bay Interchange is a massive road junction in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. 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 transport hub located in Milan, Italy.

8 Xinzhuang interchange

Eighth place in the list of the ten most difficult road junctions in the world is Xinzhuang interchange, located in Shanghai, China.

7 Higashiosaka Loop

The seventh position is occupied by Higashiosaka Loop - a road transport hub located in Osaka, Japan.

6 Interchange of I-695 and I-95

The sixth line is occupied by the Interchange of I-695 and I-95 - a complex traffic intersection located in Baltimore County, Maryland, USA.

5 Kennedy Interchange

Kennedy Interchange is a road and transportation hub located on the northeastern outskirts 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, USA. It was opened in 1993 and named after federal judge Harry Pregerson.

3 Tom Moreland Interchange

Tom Moreland Interchange is a road junction located northeast of Atlanta, Georgia, USA. It was built between 1983 and 1987 and named after Tom Moreland, one of the leading road builders in the United States. The hub currently services about 300,000 vehicles per day.

2 Gravelly Hill Interchange

Gravelly Hill Interchange is a complex road junction in Birmingham, England, better known by the nickname Spaghetti Junction. It was opened on May 24, 1972. It covers 12 ha and includes 4 km of connecting roads.

1 Puxi Viaduct

Puxi Viaduct is a large, six-level road junction located in the historic center of Shanghai, China.