Talk:Diverging diamond interchange

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I removed the Kansas City link as its shows only a diamond interchange. I do not believe this is helpful to the article and the information provided in the main text is, in my opinion, adequate for providing the proposed location. Just let me know if you disagree. --Thisisbossi 10:28, 28 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Baltimore Link at Bottom of Page

The interchange at *39.350876° N 76.496601° W is not a diverging diamond, rather it is a stack modified with left-hand exits, similar to one in Rochester. As a result, I have removed this erroneous entry. Snickerdo 02:49, 30 August 2006 (UTC)

I had added it because the movements are the same, though it is completely grade-separated rather than signalised. I feel it belongs, but I'll let it go unless anyone else feels the same. --Thisisbossi 10:31, 30 August 2006 (UTC)

It is certainly a unique interchange, but kind of goes against the idea of a diverging diamond because all directions are free-flow. A note about this interchange would certainly be a worthwhile addition to the stack article, however. Snickerdo 22:23, 30 August 2006 (UTC)

I am not sure I could call that a stack though. It really doesnt have the lanes stacking on top of each other. Rather it is low lying and offers the advantage of not having a lot of height but able to squeze into it rather easily. In Grand Rapids, MI we have a similar one and it is in the middle of the downtown. Our downtown at the time had very few tall buildings so they used this design to keep it lower. Personally I think if we metion it I would put it in the cloverleaf interchange since it has 8 ramps. --Mihsfbstadium 23:41, 25 January 2007 (UTC)

But then, using your definition of what they are, stack interchanges are merely a subset of the more generic 4-way [semi] directional interchange. e.g. I-64 & I-270 in St. Louis never exceeds 3-levels; I-94/I-90 & I-290 in Chicago is only 2-levels and is more characteristic of a pinwheel. Topology shows that all these interchanges function in the same way. --Millbrooky 06:07, 15 April 2007 (UTC)

Except there are no loops, therefore no cloverleaves. Personally, I've taken to calling these "Diverging Stack Interchanges" and I've since become aware of quite a number of these. They are by no means common, but I wouldn't say that they are particularly rare, either. Another such example is the interchanges of I-20, I-59, and I-65 in Birmingham, Alabama. Might this be an interchange configuration deserving of its own article? --Bossi (talk ;; contribs) 05:42, 15 April 2007 (UTC)

Or another idea for what these interchanges should be called: "Weaving Stack Interchange". They do seem to form a basket weave of sorts. --Millbrooky 06:07, 15 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] History

GalootRob recently added a mention that a Gilbert Chlewicki "first introduced" this concept. While the paper appears to give the impression that this is correct, I must nonetheless wonder how the Versailles interchange was constructed prior to 2003 if this configuration hadn't been invented yet? Would it be more correct to say "first introduced into the United States", perhaps? ...But even moreso, it may be more accurate only to say that he was first to present a paper on it within the United States, as surely Americans would have been aware of a new interchange configuration in use over in Versailles. We share all sorts of info when it comes to feats of transport engineering. --Thisisbossi 23:12, 17 January 2007 (UTC)

OK, after checking with the author I have a bit more understanding. Yes, Versailles came first; but he's the first one who really got to thinking about potential applications in America. I've modified the history a bit to hopefully better reflect this. --Thisisbossi 05:18, 24 January 2007 (UTC)

The history states there is only one unique example of this type of crossings.. However, I know of at least 2 others in France: exit 19 on the A1 (Seclin) and exit 5 on the A4 (Le Perreux). Might be interesting to change this. 130.138.227.11 (talk) 17:09, 29 January 2008 (UTC)

Thanks! I am not sure which of the three came first and second... I'll add them in and tweak the article accordingly. This is a fine example of how much more communication transportation engineers need both domestic and abroad! I may have to throw these two interchanges onto my sight-seeing list for next year... --Bossi (talk • gallery • contrib) 22:49, 29 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Overcrossings?

Text under Advantages states, "It reduces the number of lanes for overcrossing or bridges..." What's an "overcrossing" and how exactly would it differ from a bridge? Or is that just redundant? --Wlindley (talk) 01:14, 16 January 2008 (UTC)