World's Worst Intersections & Traffic Jams

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11787852.post-38387882021711431442008-03-10T11:07:00.017-07:002008-12-11T03:57:32.629-08:00World's Worst Intersections & Traffic Jams<table><tr><td class="medium"><img style="margin: 0px 20px 0px 0px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 41px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hVOW2U7K4-M/RbhhjvQRmvI/AAAAAAAAADw/zQN-L8I5IBo/s400/b_quantumshot_cup.jpg" alt="" border="0" />"QUANTUM SHOT" #385 <a href="http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2008/03/worlds-worst-intersections-traffic-jams.html">link</a> Also read <a href="http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2006/11/incomprehensible-intersections.html">Part 1</a> They should pay you to enter these interchanges There is a difference between "going mental" and making mental calculations how to get out of this traffic mess... at least we hope there is. The complexity of modern interchanges can be daunting (for some aerial shots of most convoluted ones head over to our previous <a href="http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2006/11/incomprehensible-intersections.html">article</a>). Here is an exaggerated vision of what the future may look like: <a href="http://lh6.google.ca/abramsv/R8RVdqoD9HI/AAAAAAAAJcI/fx7qjS_ndKQ/s1600-h/1049.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh6.google.ca/abramsv/R8RVdqoD9HI/AAAAAAAAJcI/fx7qjS_ndKQ/s640/1049.jpg"></a> (image credit: <a href="http://www.sydmead.com">Syd Mead</a>) And this is present day in Japan (does that make your heart beat faster?) <a href="http://lh3.google.ca/abramsv/R9WYNqtLe0I/AAAAAAAALOw/dVjkK67JiC8/s1600-h/329572172_ff73777dbb_o.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh3.google.ca/abramsv/R9WYNqtLe0I/AAAAAAAALOw/dVjkK67JiC8/s640/329572172_ff73777dbb_o.jpg"></a> (original unknown) But here are a few more that definitely ask to be included into the "Most Complex Junctions" Hall of Fame: - Shanghai, China (see that little circle on the side: this is a trap for amateur drivers, in which they swirl around forever) <a href="http://lh4.google.ca/abramsv/R9WRr6tLeqI/AAAAAAAALNg/HSFBRko5vKw/s1600-h/car_photo_223813_5.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh4.google.ca/abramsv/R9WRr6tLeqI/AAAAAAAALNg/HSFBRko5vKw/s640/car_photo_223813_5.jpg"></a> - Taganskaya Square, Moscow (shaped like a huge dumb loaf of bread... and just as unpalatable) <a href="http://lh6.google.ca/abramsv/R9WRsatLerI/AAAAAAAALNo/V97xmHvmuGg/s1600-h/car_photo_223811_5.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh6.google.ca/abramsv/R9WRsatLerI/AAAAAAAALNo/V97xmHvmuGg/s640/car_photo_223811_5.jpg"></a> - Tokyo, Japan (this one's actually quite elegant) <a href="http://lh3.google.ca/abramsv/R9WRsqtLesI/AAAAAAAALNw/KBdRoyVTh70/s1600-h/car_photo_223807_5.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh3.google.ca/abramsv/R9WRsqtLesI/AAAAAAAALNw/KBdRoyVTh70/s640/car_photo_223807_5.jpg"></a> - Arc de Triumph, Paris (Place Charles de Gaulle - pretty much free-for-all there) <a href="http://lh4.google.ca/abramsv/R9WRs6tLeuI/AAAAAAAALOA/c9EBNLvzt4k/s1600-h/40337-crazy-traffic-at-arc-de-triomphe-paris-france.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh4.google.ca/abramsv/R9WRs6tLeuI/AAAAAAAALOA/c9EBNLvzt4k/s640/40337-crazy-traffic-at-arc-de-triomphe-paris-france.jpg"></a> Nice Chicago arrangements: <a href="http://lh4.google.ca/abramsv/R9WRs6tLetI/AAAAAAAALN4/1sfu-YbpW0U/s1600-h/20060410_chicago.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh4.google.ca/abramsv/R9WRs6tLetI/AAAAAAAALN4/1sfu-YbpW0U/s800/20060410_chicago.jpg"></a> You also gotta love this one in Minneapolis: (between 35W and 94) <a href="http://lh6.google.ca/abramsv/R9WVhatLewI/AAAAAAAALOQ/HrAq7wPby30/s1600-h/sdrgdsfhghf.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh6.google.ca/abramsv/R9WVhatLewI/AAAAAAAALOQ/HrAq7wPby30/s640/sdrgdsfhghf.jpg"></a> Golden Glades interchange in N. Miami Beach, FL. <a href="http://lh4.google.ca/abramsv/R9WVh6tLexI/AAAAAAAALOY/tZWRBI-iZl8/s1600-h/sdfgdfgrtytyt.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh4.google.ca/abramsv/R9WVh6tLexI/AAAAAAAALOY/tZWRBI-iZl8/s640/sdfgdfgrtytyt.jpg"></a> Looking like some strands of yarn: Rt. 440 in New Jersey: <a href="http://lh6.google.ca/abramsv/R9WaNatLe5I/AAAAAAAALPY/XCLWwjGWtx0/s1600-h/sdfghgjhjhjhj.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh6.google.ca/abramsv/R9WaNatLe5I/AAAAAAAALPY/XCLWwjGWtx0/s640/sdfghgjhjhjhj.jpg"></a> (images courtesy Google Earth) Magic Roundabout Something to shock you into disbelief, and leave you utterly shattered: getting in and out of the "magic mushroom circle" in England: <a href="http://lh5.google.ca/abramsv/R9WPEKtLeoI/AAAAAAAALNQ/rDC83SBRP4A/s1600-h/kreisverkehr_10.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh5.google.ca/abramsv/R9WPEKtLeoI/AAAAAAAALNQ/rDC83SBRP4A/s640/kreisverkehr_10.jpg"></a> <a href="http://lh4.google.ca/abramsv/R9WPD6tLenI/AAAAAAAALNI/rgUqLSc4bP8/s1600-h/kreisverkehr_11.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px; width:560px" src="http://lh4.google.ca/abramsv/R9WPD6tLenI/AAAAAAAALNI/rgUqLSc4bP8/s640/kreisverkehr_11.jpg"></a> <a href="http://lh6.google.ca/abramsv/R9WPEatLepI/AAAAAAAALNY/uWKrrxaWSnA/s1600-h/swindon.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh6.google.ca/abramsv/R9WPEatLepI/AAAAAAAALNY/uWKrrxaWSnA/s640/swindon.jpg"></a> There are three intersections like this in UK: in Swindon, Hemel and in Cardiff. See exactly how it works <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Roundabout_(Swindon)">here</a> and <a href="http://www.armin-grewe.com/holiday/wiltshire/swindon-roundabout.htm">here</a>. A cheat sheet "how to get out" is more helpful: <a href="http://lh6.google.ca/abramsv/R9WRtatLevI/AAAAAAAALOI/X6wPDLdIdSA/s1600-h/swindonRAB.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh6.google.ca/abramsv/R9WRtatLevI/AAAAAAAALOI/X6wPDLdIdSA/s640/swindonRAB.jpg"></a> China is at the forefront of traffic circles (and spiral bridge approaches), as well: <a href="http://lh3.google.ca/abramsv/R9WYOqtLe2I/AAAAAAAALPA/4jrF2zzf6K4/s1600-h/506487766_1c91939de0_o.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh3.google.ca/abramsv/R9WYOqtLe2I/AAAAAAAALPA/4jrF2zzf6K4/s640/506487766_1c91939de0_o.jpg"></a> <a href="http://lh5.google.ca/abramsv/R3Kv6kKUdOI/AAAAAAAABvw/xQ0f0CM9Rpc/s1600-h/47_pics.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh5.google.ca/abramsv/R3Kv6kKUdOI/AAAAAAAABvw/xQ0f0CM9Rpc/s640/47_pics.jpg"></a> Some vintage visions of intersections Little did the urban planners of yesteryear and futurist designers imagined how complex our traffic infra-structure would become. The closest perhaps was the "Futurama" display in the 30s: <a href="http://lh4.google.ca/abramsv/R9WVh6tLeyI/AAAAAAAALOg/6yv2snhTPCg/s1600-h/365095320_2ab3f2cc16_o.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh4.google.ca/abramsv/R9WVh6tLeyI/AAAAAAAALOg/6yv2snhTPCg/s640/365095320_2ab3f2cc16_o.jpg"></a> Looks actually quite orderly: <a href="http://lh4.google.ca/abramsv/R9WYM6tLezI/AAAAAAAALOo/0xEEN2WiIPI/s1600-h/365095277_c00fc227f2_o.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh4.google.ca/abramsv/R9WYM6tLezI/AAAAAAAALOo/0xEEN2WiIPI/s640/365095277_c00fc227f2_o.jpg"></a> There is a highway in my basement Another solution for the busy intersection: put a "traffic-control" tower smack in the middle (and on top) of it! This strange concoction comes from "Modern Mechanics" 1932 issue and is called "Safety Tower" - basically a multi-level interchange, with space above it used for businesses and entertainment (including air traffic control beacons!) <a href="http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/01/01/make-street-intersections-pay-a-profit/"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh5.google.ca/abramsv/R9WEHKtLeWI/AAAAAAAALKg/odp9dILDghI/s640/qewrtrtry.jpg" ></a> (image credit: <a href="http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/01/01/make-street-intersections-pay-a-profit/">Modern Mechanix</a>) Amazingly, same idea came to Russians recently, as they put a huge "flying saucer" mall on top of major intersection: see <a href="http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2007/03/amazing-ufo-shaped-building-to-be-built.html">here</a> <a href="http://lh5.google.ca/abramsv/R9WEJKtLeZI/AAAAAAAALK4/oAwT5DaHCoE/s1600-h/433121724_10f69ee4cd.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh5.google.ca/abramsv/R9WEJKtLeZI/AAAAAAAALK4/oAwT5DaHCoE/s800/433121724_10f69ee4cd.jpg"></a> and of course, a humorous solution (that might just work in Russia, who knows) <a href="http://lh4.google.ca/abramsv/R9WYO6tLe3I/AAAAAAAALPI/fN7GUgH38iQ/s1600-h/633750189_601c7fd28a_o.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh4.google.ca/abramsv/R9WYO6tLe3I/AAAAAAAALPI/fN7GUgH38iQ/s640/633750189_601c7fd28a_o.jpg"></a> Railway intersections: "Diamond Crossings" Quite a few of them can be found in US, but not that many in the rest of the world. US railway companies liked this kind of intersection which does not allow a train switch to a rival company's tracks. <a href="http://lh3.google.ca/abramsv/R9WM2qtLemI/AAAAAAAALNA/DLe17X1Tz4g/s1600-h/396px-Diamondcrossing.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh3.google.ca/abramsv/R9WM2qtLemI/AAAAAAAALNA/DLe17X1Tz4g/s640/396px-Diamondcrossing.jpg"></a> Here is a couple: in Poland and Russia: <a href="http://lh4.google.ca/abramsv/R9WM16tLekI/AAAAAAAALMw/lklQRvqilXQ/s1600-h/11352-125950-f82a619aa92223b535b84742599f1de1.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh4.google.ca/abramsv/R9WM16tLekI/AAAAAAAALMw/lklQRvqilXQ/s640/11352-125950-f82a619aa92223b535b84742599f1de1.jpg"></a> <a href="http://lh5.google.ca/abramsv/R9WM2KtLelI/AAAAAAAALM4/5Ibe26g1-zs/s1600-h/18686-092736-762a211415dd79e817143d488c705667.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh5.google.ca/abramsv/R9WM2KtLelI/AAAAAAAALM4/5Ibe26g1-zs/s640/18686-092736-762a211415dd79e817143d488c705667.jpg"></a> (original unknown) Traffic Jams from Hell What a better way to greet Monday than to publish a collection of horrendous traffic congestion pictures, which may cause even most patient driver to shudder and say "Boy, am I glad I'm not in this mess right now". First picture is taken from the window of Red Hat's offices in Sao Paulo, Brazil, followed by various location around the world, with Russia featured quite prominently - <a href="http://lh3.google.ca/abramsv/R5ACWkKUpeI/AAAAAAAAEOg/i8Au9M_SkZQ/s1600-h/deadlocknajkcomafarialibh3.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh3.google.ca/abramsv/R5ACWkKUpeI/AAAAAAAAEOg/i8Au9M_SkZQ/s640/deadlocknajkcomafarialibh3.jpg"></a> (image credit: <a href="http://www.glommer.net/blogs/?p=189">Glommer's Mind</a>) <a href="http://lh5.google.ca/abramsv/R9WYOKtLe1I/AAAAAAAALO4/FLefbnOq5rQ/s1600-h/495711679_52f8d76d11_o.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px; width:512px" src="http://lh5.google.ca/abramsv/R9WYOKtLe1I/AAAAAAAALO4/FLefbnOq5rQ/s640/495711679_52f8d76d11_o.jpg"></a> <a href="http://lh4.google.ca/abramsv/R5bBVu9HgVI/AAAAAAAAEuQ/1UR_rpUacD4/s1600-h/LiveLeak-dot-com-83132-i_traffic_jam.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px; width:512px" src="http://lh4.google.ca/abramsv/R5bBVu9HgVI/AAAAAAAAEuQ/1UR_rpUacD4/s640/LiveLeak-dot-com-83132-i_traffic_jam.jpg"></a> <a href="http://lh5.google.ca/abramsv/R9WEKKtLecI/AAAAAAAALLU/eQdUUWXSeWw/s1600-h/1044.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px; width:512px" src="http://lh5.google.ca/abramsv/R9WEKKtLecI/AAAAAAAALLU/eQdUUWXSeWw/s800/1044.jpg?imgmax=512"></a> <a href="http://lh3.google.ca/abramsv/R7e7zKoD3UI/AAAAAAAAIns/Ek6wje0uN3s/s1600-h/normal_traffic.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px; width:512px" src="http://lh3.google.ca/abramsv/R7e7zKoD3UI/AAAAAAAAIns/Ek6wje0uN3s/s640/normal_traffic.jpg"></a> <a href="http://lh6.google.ca/abramsv/R7e726oD3hI/AAAAAAAAIpU/AAVfi165I-A/s1600-h/idiotparkingru_197.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px; width:512px" src="http://lh6.google.ca/abramsv/R7e726oD3hI/AAAAAAAAIpU/AAVfi165I-A/s640/idiotparkingru_197.jpg"></a> <a href="http://lh6.google.ca/abramsv/R7a5cKoD3DI/AAAAAAAAIlM/Z6UPfyNtUNs/s1600-h/44_picsasdasa.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px; width:512px" src="http://lh6.google.ca/abramsv/R7a5cKoD3DI/AAAAAAAAIlM/Z6UPfyNtUNs/s640/44_picsasdasa.jpg"></a> Bucharest, Romania Unregulated mess somewhere in Russia: <a href="http://lh4.google.ca/abramsv/R7e7zaoD3VI/AAAAAAAAIn0/uE3UpFkQTao/s1600-h/normal_2.JPG"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh4.google.ca/abramsv/R7e7zaoD3VI/AAAAAAAAIn0/uE3UpFkQTao/s640/normal_2.JPG"></a> <a href="http://lh3.google.ca/abramsv/R5ACSkKUpaI/AAAAAAAAEOA/y_JR_-PpFto/s1600-h/probka.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh3.google.ca/abramsv/R5ACSkKUpaI/AAAAAAAAEOA/y_JR_-PpFto/s640/probka.jpg"></a> Here is the classic traffic jam that terrorized Moscow Sadovoye Koltzo (ring road) in October 2007: <a href="http://lh3.google.ca/abramsv/R9WJsqtLegI/AAAAAAAALMQ/3k0b_FN6WiM/s1600-h/DSC_0045.JPG"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh3.google.ca/abramsv/R9WJsqtLegI/AAAAAAAALMQ/3k0b_FN6WiM/s640/DSC_0045.JPG"></a> <a href="http://lh6.google.ca/abramsv/R9WJsatLefI/AAAAAAAALMI/Y9uzXVpe_zw/s1600-h/DSC_0044.JPG"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh6.google.ca/abramsv/R9WJsatLefI/AAAAAAAALMI/Y9uzXVpe_zw/s640/DSC_0044.JPG"></a> <a href="http://lh5.google.ca/abramsv/R9WJuKtLejI/AAAAAAAALMo/6Muq1vrAv2Q/s1600-h/DSC_0071.JPG"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh5.google.ca/abramsv/R9WJuKtLejI/AAAAAAAALMo/6Muq1vrAv2Q/s640/DSC_0071.JPG"></a> Continuing well into the night: <a href="http://lh3.google.ca/abramsv/R9WJtqtLeiI/AAAAAAAALMg/b2V6S_w2Xd8/s1600-h/DSC_0050.JPG"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh3.google.ca/abramsv/R9WJtqtLeiI/AAAAAAAALMg/b2V6S_w2Xd8/s640/DSC_0050.JPG"></a> (images credit: Anton Nossik) This particular congestion is not actually a traffic jam. It happened in Italy during the strike, creating bottle-necks for trucks at the border: (still very hairy situations with long waits involved) - <a href="http://lh5.google.ca/abramsv/R2cgzUKUZoI/AAAAAAAABFM/ZlDAC9JKgpk/s1600-h/01_probka.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh5.google.ca/abramsv/R2cgzUKUZoI/AAAAAAAABFM/ZlDAC9JKgpk/s640/01_probka.jpg"></a> <a href="http://lh4.google.ca/abramsv/R2cg2EKUZpI/AAAAAAAABFU/_quVWqtyqik/s1600-h/03_probka.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh4.google.ca/abramsv/R2cg2EKUZpI/AAAAAAAABFU/_quVWqtyqik/s640/03_probka.jpg"></a> <a href="http://lh3.google.ca/abramsv/R2cgv0KUZnI/AAAAAAAABFE/wejvzv9Khqo/s1600-h/04_probka.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh3.google.ca/abramsv/R2cgv0KUZnI/AAAAAAAABFE/wejvzv9Khqo/s640/04_probka.jpg"></a> (original unknown) Jacek Yerka's unique solution to urban traffic problems, in surreal light: <a href="http://lh6.google.ca/abramsv/R9WYPatLe4I/AAAAAAAALPQ/7z38RdA7S1k/s1600-h/1019562309_12ec523d22_o.jpg"><img style="margin:10px 10px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh6.google.ca/abramsv/R9WYPatLe4I/AAAAAAAALPQ/7z38RdA7S1k/s640/1019562309_12ec523d22_o.jpg"></a> (image credit: <a href="http://www.yerkaland.com/">Jacek Yerka</a>) (other sources: <a href="http://razorbiker.com/">Razorbiker</a>, <a href="http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/210607/worlds_worst_junctions.html#">AutoExpress</a>, <a href="http://www.freedomtrailriders.org/">Freedom Trail Riders</a>) <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheThrillingWonderStory" title="Subscribe to my feed" rel="alternate" type="application/rssXml"><img style="float:right; margin:10px 20px 0px 0px;" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_hVOW2U7K4-M/ST2cT6PQWkI/AAAAAAAAuc4/7VTPdcSTgXE/s800/dailyDRBgif.gif" /></a><a href="http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2006/11/incomprehensible-intersections.html">READ THE FIRST PART HERE</a> <a href="http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2008/03/worlds-worst-intersections-traffic-jams.html">Permanent Link</a>...<a href="http://del.icio.us/post" onclick="window.open('http://del.icio.us/post?v=4&noui&jump=close&url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'delicious','toolbar=no,width=700,height=400'); return false;"><img src="http://images.del.icio.us/static/img/delicious.small.gif"></a>...<a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2008/03/worlds-worst-intersections-traffic-jams.html">+StumbleUpon <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hVOW2U7K4-M/RkwyjU1gWGI/AAAAAAAAAek/sU4P1vUFRxQ/s400/stumble+copy2.jpg"></a>...<a href="http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2008/03/worlds-worst-intersections-traffic-jams.html" onclick="return fbs_click()" target="_blank" class="fb_share_link">+Facebook <img src="http://lh5.google.ca/abramsv/R7-g-qoD7VI/AAAAAAAAJMc/oEuhCjXbPUE/s144/facebook_share_icon.gif"></a> Category: <a href="http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2007/01/category-auto-concept-cars.html">Auto</a>,<a href="http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2007/01/category-weird.html">Weird</a> </td></tr></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/11787852-3838788202171143144?l=www.darkroastedblend.com'/></div>Avi Abramshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12550929795356812957noreply@blogger.com61