Weaving free two level cloverleaf type interchange for a highway crossing under a street

Abstract

The weaving free two level cloverleaf type local interchange for a highway crossing under a street accommodates traffic from a plurality of traveled ways which include a first traveled way for traffic traveling in a first direction, a second traveled way for traffic traveling in a direction opposite to the first direction, a third traveled way for traffic traveling in a direction intersecting the first and second traveled ways, and a fourth traveled way for traffic traveling in a direction opposite to the traffic traveling on the third traveled way. The first and second traveled ways cross under the third and fourth traveled ways. Each of the first and second traveled ways has a design speed compatible to a highway or freeway design speed, or is designed according to highway or freeway design standards. Each of the third and fourth traveled ways has a design speed compatible to the design speed of a street, road, or a conventional highway, or is designed according to the design standards of a street, road, or a conventional highway. In the preferred embodiment, the first traveled way left turn ramp crosses under the third and fourth traveled ways, then crosses over the first and second traveled ways, and finally joins the fourth traveled way. The second traveled way left turn ramp crosses under the third and fourth traveled ways, then crosses over the first and second traveled ways, and finally joins the third traveled way. In the additional embodiment, the third traveled way left turn ramp crosses over the first and second traveled ways, then crosses under the third and fourth traveled ways, and finally joins the first traveled way. The fourth traveled way left turn ramp crosses over the first and second traveled ways, then crosses under the third and fourth traveled ways, and finally joins the second traveled way. The present invention eliminated the highway and street weaving sections. Each fly over or under ramp has a better horizontal curve and achieves minimum number of slope, sag and crest, which represents a better geometric design than the one in the interchange in U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,184. The present invention has higher efficiency and safety standard than a conventional cloverleaf type local interchange and the interchange in U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,184. The two level configuration, compact ramp geometric design, higher safety, and better efficiency make this interchange a better choice for congested urban highway system.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not applicable.FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

[0002] Not applicable.SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

[0003] Not applicable.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0004] 1. Field of Invention

[0005] This invention relates to cloverleaf type local interchanges, specifically, to weaving free two level cloverleaf type local interchanges.

[0006] 2. Prior Art

[0007] The conventional cloverleaf type local interchange was patented on Feb. 29, 1916 under U.S. Pat. No. 1,173,505. It has the following disadvantages:

[0008] (a) This type of local interchange has highway weaving sections for fast moving vehicles swapping lanes at grade. A safe and efficient highway weaving section requires a long weaving length and thus large Right of Way. However, most local interchanges can not have such large Right of Way for the required weaving length. Traffic moves slowly inside the highway weaving sections. The Level of Service in the highway weaving sections is usually F during peak hours in ur...

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