4 ms·

Huh, I didn't know these were a) a 'thing' (as in, more than one across the UK, and b) officially called 'magic roundabouts'. I've encountered one in Hemel Hem

Huh, I didn't know these were a) a 'thing' (as in, more than one across the UK, and b) officially called 'magic roundabouts'. I've encountered one in Hemel Hempstead; it was a little scary (istr you can see traffic coming 'towards' you), but the article makes me want to go back and try it out again. Edited to add: Between this and the horrific Welwyn Garden City one-way system, I guess Hertforshire must have (or have had) some of the maddest traffic planners in the UK...

ZenoArrow 10y ago
I think Birmingham may have Hertfordshire beat, particularly with the infamous spaghetti junction... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/6662562/Birminghams-Spaghetti-Junction-Britains-most-intimidating-road.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/6662562/Birminghams... https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravelly_Hill_Interchange https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravelly_Hill_Interchange
- sveiss 10y ago
  Spaghetti Junction (Gravelly Hill) looks horrid when you see a photograph, but it's well signposted and really easy to drive through so long as you're comfortable merging on a motorway (and if you're not, you really shouldn't have merged onto the motorway in the first place!) Some of the intersections within Birmingham itself are pretty awful, though, and it's not helped by the redevelopment the city centre is going through. Last time I passed through it took me three attempts to find the short stay car park at New Street station...
- russell 10y ago
  From your second link: >>>The junction provides access to and from the A38 (Tyburn Road), A38(M) (Aston Expressway), the A5127 (Lichfield Road/Gravelly Hill), and several unclassified local roads. It covers 30 acres (12 ha), serves 18 routes and includes 4 km (2.5 mi) of slip roads, but only 1 km (0.6 mi) of the M6 itself. Across 5 different levels, it has 559 concrete columns, reaching up to 24.4 m (80 ft). The engineers had to elevate 21.7 km (13.5 mi) of motorway to accommodate two railway lines, three canals, and two rivers. Truly an inspiration to those of us who grew up with Erector Sets and Tinker Toys.

ZenoArrow 10y ago

I think Birmingham may have Hertfordshire beat, particularly with the infamous spaghetti junction... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/6662562/Birminghams-Spaghetti-Junction-Britains-most-intimidating-road.html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/6662562/Birminghams... https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravelly_Hill_Interchange https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravelly_Hill_Interchange

sveiss 10y ago
Spaghetti Junction (Gravelly Hill) looks horrid when you see a photograph, but it's well signposted and really easy to drive through so long as you're comfortable merging on a motorway (and if you're not, you really shouldn't have merged onto the motorway in the first place!) Some of the intersections within Birmingham itself are pretty awful, though, and it's not helped by the redevelopment the city centre is going through. Last time I passed through it took me three attempts to find the short stay car park at New Street station...
russell 10y ago
From your second link: >>>The junction provides access to and from the A38 (Tyburn Road), A38(M) (Aston Expressway), the A5127 (Lichfield Road/Gravelly Hill), and several unclassified local roads. It covers 30 acres (12 ha), serves 18 routes and includes 4 km (2.5 mi) of slip roads, but only 1 km (0.6 mi) of the M6 itself. Across 5 different levels, it has 559 concrete columns, reaching up to 24.4 m (80 ft). The engineers had to elevate 21.7 km (13.5 mi) of motorway to accommodate two railway lines, three canals, and two rivers. Truly an inspiration to those of us who grew up with Erector Sets and Tinker Toys.