Interchanges are great! Why? Because unlike standard intersections, they allow free flow of intersecting roads rather than having to stop at traffic lights or roundabouts. But sometimes interchanges can be extremely complicated with many junctions and even several levels (those are called stack interchanges). Such a complicated interchange is sometimes nicknamed “Spaghetti Junction“. Take a look at these photos of mind-blowing interchanges and it will become very clear why
1. Puxi Viaduct, Shanghai, China
Perhaps the only stack interchange in the world with six levels, this huge interchange of Nanbei Road and Yan’an Road is located in Puxi – historic center of Shanghai
2. Gravelly Hill Interchange, England
Gravelly Hill Interchange is THE Spaghetti Junction. The nickname which now refers to every complicated junction, originated in an article 1965 regarding the plans to build this junction, which later opened in 1972. The interchange is located in Gravelly Hill area of Birmingham
3. Tom Moreland Interchange, Atlanta, Georgia
The Tom Moreland Interchange is also nicknamed “Spaghetti Junction” by the locals. This junction is a stack interchange at the intersection of Interstate 85 and Interstate 285, northeast of Atlanta, Georgia. The interchange opened in 1987
4. Judge Harry Pregerson Interchange, Los Angeles, California
The intersection of Interchange 105 and Interchange 110
5. Kennedy Interchange, Louisville, Kentucky
Located at the intersection of Interstates 64, 65 and 71, in Louisville, Kentucky. Opened in 1964, the interchange is named after the John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge located just to its north
6. Interchange of I-695 and I-95, Baltimore County ,Maryland
7. Higashiosaka Loop, Osaka, Japan
8. Xinzhuang interchange, Shanghai, China
At the intersection of freeways A4, A8, and A20, this is truly a massive interchange! The second interchange from Shanghai on this list
9. A4 and E70, Milano, Italy
10. South Bay Interchange, Boston, Massachusetts
Built at the late 1990s as part of the Big Dig project