The first image that comes to most peoples' minds when the subject of Los Angeles freeways is brought up is the elegant and innovative downtown '4 Level' Interchange. It is *the* origional directional free-flowing urban freeway-to-freeway interchange. A true engineering wonder when it opened in 1954, it is an amazingly simple connection in the metro freeway system and still works VERY well. (That is the Dodger Stadium parking lot at the top edge of the map.)
US 6, 60, 66, 70, 99 and CA 11 once all met here in addition to the current US 101 and CA 110 (Thanx Mike Ballard for the info).
The '4 Level' could probably not be built new today in its current form. The ramps between the surface streets just southeast of the main crossings and the 'Collector/Distributor' lanes are too close to the main interchange, the ramps in the interchange itself would most likely have to have their curves broadened and there would almost certainly be a set of ramps connecting express/HOV and the 'C/D' lanes seperately from the main interchange (making it a majorly complex place indeed).
A genuine historic landmark.
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Just follow this sign to make your OWN great signs!!!! |
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This page © Michael G. Koerner |
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