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

Abstract

The weaving free two level cloverleaf type local interchange for a highway crossing over 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 over 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 over the third and fourth traveled ways, then crosses under the first and second traveled ways, and finally joins the fourth traveled way. The second traveled way left turn ramp crosses over the third and fourth traveled ways, then crosses under 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 under the first and second traveled ways, then crosses over the third and fourth traveled ways, and finally joins the first traveled way. The fourth traveled way left turn ramp crosses under the first and second traveled ways, then crosses over 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 achieves minimal number of horizontal curve, slope, and sag and crest, which represents better alignment and profile than the one in the interchange in U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,184. Therefore, 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, improved ramp geometric design, higher safety, and better efficiency make this interchange a better choice for congested urban highway system.

1 . An interchange, comprising:
 (a) a first traveled way for traffic traveling in a first direction,   (b) a second traveled way for traffic traveling in a direction opposite to said first direction,   (c) a third traveled way for traffic traveling in a direction intersecting said first and second traveled ways,   (d) a fourth traveled way for traffic traveling in a direction opposite to said traffic traveling on said third traveled way,   (e) said first and second traveled ways crossing over said third and fourth traveled ways,   (f) each of said third and fourth traveled ways being designed according to street, road, or conventional highway design standards,   (g) a first traveled way left turn ramp forming a distinct section, being disposed at a predetermined first point along the right side of said first traveled way, crossing over said third and fourth traveled ways, crossing under said first and second traveled ways, and joining the right side of said fourth traveled way, diverting traffic from said first traveled way to said fourth traveled way,   (h) a second traveled way left turn ramp forming a distinct section, being disposed at a predetermined second point along the right side of said second traveled way, crossing over said third and fourth traveled ways, crossing under said first and second traveled ways, and joining the right side of said third traveled way, diverting traffic from said second traveled way to said third traveled way,   (i) a third traveled way left turn ramp forming a substantially circular cloverleaf section, being disposed at a predetermined third point along the right side of said third traveled way, joining the right side of said first traveled way, and diverting traffic from said third traveled way to said first traveled way,   (j) a fourth traveled way left turn ramp forming a substantially circular cloverleaf section, being disposed at a predetermined fourth point along the right side of said fourth traveled way, joining the right side of said second traveled way, and diverting traffic from said fourth traveled way to said second traveled way,   (k) a first traveled way right turn ramp being disposed at a predetermined fifth point along the right side of a first means, joining the right side of a second means, and diverting traffic from said first traveled way to said third traveled way,   (l) a second traveled way right turn ramp being disposed at a predetermined sixth point along the right side of a third means, joining the right side of a fourth means, and diverting traffic from said second traveled way to said fourth traveled way,   (m) a third traveled way right turn ramp being disposed at a predetermined seventh point along the right side of said third traveled way, joining the right side of a fifth means, and diverting traffic from said third traveled way to said second traveled way,   (n) a fourth traveled way right turn ramp being disposed at a predetermined eighth point along the right side of said fourth traveled way, joining the right side of a sixth means, and diverting traffic from said fourth traveled way to said first traveled way,   whereby the interchange without any weaving section provides higher efficiency and safety.   
   
   
       2 . The interchange of  claim 1  wherein said first means is said first traveled way left turn ramp. 
   
   
       3 . The interchange of  claim 1  wherein said first means is said first traveled way. 
   
   
       4 . The interchange of  claim 1  wherein said second means is said second traveled way left turn ramp. 
   
   
       5 . The interchange of  claim 1  wherein said second means is said third traveled way. 
   
   
       6 . The interchange of  claim 1  wherein said third means is said second traveled way left turn ramp. 
   
   
       7 . The interchange of  claim 1  wherein said third means is said second traveled way. 
   
   
       8 . The interchange of  claim 1  wherein said fourth means is said first traveled way left turn ramp. 
   
   
       9 . The interchange of  claim 1  wherein said fourth means is said fourth traveled way. 
   
   
       10 . The interchange of  claim 1  wherein said fifth means is said fourth traveled way left turn ramp. 
   
   
       11 . The interchange of  claim 1  wherein said fifth means is said second traveled way. 
   
   
       12 . The interchange of  claim 1  wherein said sixth means is said third traveled way left turn ramp. 
   
   
       13 . The interchange of  claim 1  wherein said sixth means is said first traveled way. 
   
   
       14 . An interchange, comprising:
 (a) a first traveled way for traffic traveling in a first direction,   (b) a second traveled way for traffic traveling in a direction opposite to said first direction,   (c) a third traveled way for traffic traveling in a direction intersecting said first and second traveled ways,   (d) a fourth traveled way for traffic traveling in a direction opposite to said traffic traveling on said third traveled way,   (e) said first and second traveled ways crossing over said third and fourth traveled ways,   (f) each of said third and fourth traveled ways being designed according to street, road, or conventional highway design standards,   (g) a first traveled way left turn ramp forming a substantially circular cloverleaf section, being disposed at a predetermined first point along the right side of said first traveled way, joining the right side of said fourth traveled way, and diverting traffic from said first traveled way to said fourth traveled way,   (h) a second traveled way left turn ramp forming a substantially circular cloverleaf section, being disposed at a predetermined second point along the right side of said second traveled way, joining the right side of said third traveled way, and diverting traffic from said second traveled way to said third traveled way,   (i) a third traveled way left turn ramp forming a distinct section, being disposed at a predetermined third point along the right side of said third traveled way, crossing under said first and second traveled ways, crossing over said third and fourth traveled ways, and joining the right side of said first traveled way, diverting traffic from said third traveled way to said first traveled way,   (j) a fourth traveled way left turn ramp forming a distinct section, being disposed at a predetermined fourth point along the right side of said fourth traveled way, crossing under said first and second traveled ways, crossing over said third and fourth traveled ways, and joining the right side of said second traveled way, diverting traffic from said fourth traveled way to said second traveled way,   (k) a first traveled way right turn ramp being disposed at a predetermined fifth point along the right side of a first means, joining the right side of said third traveled way, and diverting traffic from said first traveled way to said third traveled way,   (l) a second traveled way right turn ramp being disposed at a predetermined sixth point along the right side of a second means, joining the right side of said fourth traveled way, and diverting traffic from said second traveled way to said fourth traveled way,   (m) a third traveled way right turn ramp being disposed at a predetermined seventh point along the right side of a third means, joining the right side of a fourth means, and diverting traffic from said third traveled way to said second traveled way,   (n) a fourth traveled way right turn ramp being disposed at a predetermined eighth point along the right side of a fifth means, joining the right side of a sixth means, and diverting traffic from said fourth traveled way to said first traveled way,   whereby the interchange without any weaving section provides higher efficiency and safety.   
   
   
       15 . The interchange of  claim 14  wherein said first means is said first traveled way left turn ramp. 
   
   
       16 . The interchange of  claim 14  wherein said first means is said first traveled way. 
   
   
       17 . The interchange of  claim 14  wherein said second means is said second traveled way left turn ramp. 
   
   
       18 . The interchange of  claim 14  wherein said second means is said second traveled way. 
   
   
       19 . The interchange of  claim 14  wherein said third means is said third traveled way left turn ramp. 
   
   
       20 . The interchange of  claim 14  wherein said third means is said third traveled way. 
   
   
       21 . The interchange of  claim 14  wherein said fourth means is said fourth traveled way left turn ramp. 
   
   
       22 . The interchange of  claim 14  wherein said fourth means is said second traveled way. 
   
   
       23 . The interchange of  claim 14  wherein said fifth means is said fourth traveled way left turn ramp. 
   
   
       24 . The interchange of  claim 14  wherein said fifth means is said fourth traveled way. 
   
   
       25 . The interchange of  claim 14  wherein said sixth means is said third traveled way left turn ramp. 
   
   
       26 . The interchange of  claim 14  wherein said sixth means is said first traveled way.