# Weirdest road you’ve ever been on **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 11, 2024, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-road-you-ve-ever-been-on/1007098 "2024-09-11T00:07:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-road-you-ve-ever-been-on/1007098/143 "2025-09-18T17:49:48Z")
US highway 93 used to famously go over the Hoover Dam, until they built a bypass bridge a few years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Ancient\_Nerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@Ancient\_Nerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ancient_Nerd)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2025, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-road-you-ve-ever-been-on/1007098/144 "2025-10-05T06:18:48Z")
Interstate 880 and California 87, two major freeways, cross near the San Jose Airport. There are no ramps to change from either one of the roads to the other in either direction. The only thing you can do is continue straight on the one you happen to be on. ---
**Author:** ![sunacres](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@sunacres](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunacres)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2025, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-road-you-ve-ever-been-on/1007098/145 "2025-10-05T13:38:34Z")
Back before the arctic ice cap melted away, I worked in Prudhoe Bay on the north edge of Alaska. In winter we could build “roads” over the ice by drilling a hole down to seawater, pumping it up and squirting it out. The water would freeze so quickly it was like spraying gunnite. In no time you could build up enough thickness of ice to drive heavy equipment over it to get to wells that are “out at sea” during summer months. ---
**Author:** ![Clearbluesky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Clearbluesky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clearbluesky)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2025, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-road-you-ve-ever-been-on/1007098/146 "2025-10-05T15:08:02Z")
We called it Haunted Hill in high school. A section of Kagel Canyon north of the San Fernando valley as it goes along a cemetery. You put your car in neutral and you will seemingly roll up the hill. This being due to an optical illusion. It’s in Google Maps as “Gravity Hill”. And I think there are number of similar roads around the world. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2025, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-road-you-ve-ever-been-on/1007098/147 "2025-10-05T22:41:00Z")
Yeah, usually the illusion is caused by trees growing at an angle, instead of straight up, usually due to prevailing winds. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2025, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-road-you-ve-ever-been-on/1007098/148 "2025-10-05T22:50:04Z")
The Mass Pike (I-90) in Newton goes under a supermarktet https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=%213m2%212sen%214v0%216m8%211m7%211s0WCYcH0lEONwAmq_xgQ2ng%212m2%211d42.3510551%212d-71.2084107%213f232.22%214f8.214%215f0.75 I-93 through Franconia Notch NH is a two lane road. https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=%213m2%212sen%214v0%216m8%211m7%211sslYuIdGpTdCkafk-qvWsGQ%212m2%211d44.148461%212d-71.6801473%213f15.83%214f8.345%215f0.75 ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2025, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-road-you-ve-ever-been-on/1007098/149 "2025-10-06T02:34:35Z")
In Montreal the Ville Marie Expressway goes under the Convention Center, in the middle of downtown. https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=%213m2%212sen%214v0%216m8%211m7%211suhPIPAi1E9RnSnLr0OTSBA%212m2%211d45.5068992%212d-73.5584223%213f219.15%214f9.035%215f0.6 ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2025, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-road-you-ve-ever-been-on/1007098/150 "2025-10-06T14:47:45Z")
The same arrangement is in Kansas City, MO. The I-670 interstate, and parts of its interchange with I-35, go right under the KC convention center. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2025, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-road-you-ve-ever-been-on/1007098/151 "2025-10-07T16:27:44Z")
Interstate 35 nears its end in Duluth Minnesota after going through four tunnels. Above the tunnels is Leif Erikson park, which has a lovely rose garden, as well as several city streets. The original plan for I35 was to build it parallel to its current path on a series of bridges out on Lake Superior. That frankly would have been a disaster in winter, what with storms and blowing surf and freezing temperatures for months at a time. The other option was to simply end I35 several miles to the south, which is still being debated and studied. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2025, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-road-you-ve-ever-been-on/1007098/152 "2025-10-07T21:38:23Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > The original plan for I35 was to build it parallel to its current path on a series of bridges out on Lake Superior. Building a similar bypass over Lake Ontario is one idea that was bandied about for replacing the Gardner Expressway in Toronto. (I don’t know how seriously it was considered.) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2025, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-road-you-ve-ever-been-on/1007098/153 "2025-10-07T21:41:24Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > The original plan for I35 was to build it parallel to its current path on a series of bridges out on Lake Superior. That frankly would have been a disaster in winter, what with storms and blowing surf and freezing temperatures for months at a time. Or even before that, when the winds of November blow early. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2025, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-road-you-ve-ever-been-on/1007098/154 "2025-10-07T23:11:13Z")
With their luck a ship would hit it. Then sink. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2025, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-road-you-ve-ever-been-on/1007098/155 "2025-10-07T23:33:42Z")
Since the discussion has now turned to Roads That Go Under Things… In Monterey, CA, Lighthouse Ave passes through a tunnel underneath the Monterey State Historic Park, which includes the old Custom House. Obviously this was done for historical preservation purposes. https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!4v1759879365427!6m8!1m7!1sPnAiet6GQ0mRc9pFEshjQw!2m2!1d36.60176908790604!2d-121.8930020759721!3f348.0918404360841!4f3.149805084623466!5f0.7820865974627469 In downtown Sacramento, 5th Street used to pass under a shopping mall. The mall was partially demolished about a decade ago and the Golden 1 Center (Sacramento Kings Arena) was built on the site. So now the street passes under the plaza around the arena which connects to the small remaining piece of the old mall. In the oldest Street View images you can see when the mall was still there. https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!4v1759879629673!6m8!1m7!1sUzitbpkNkMfLEqbXesNN1Q!2m2!1d38.5802652443523!2d-121.5008539431884!3f26.35254368839407!4f3.678460153489638!5f0.7820865974627469 ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2025, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-road-you-ve-ever-been-on/1007098/156 "2025-10-07T23:44:43Z")
In Manhattan, the FDR Drive passes under the United Nations headquarters. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2025, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-road-you-ve-ever-been-on/1007098/157 "2025-10-08T00:05:10Z")
Lotta roads around the world go under airport runways. But by putting the road in an underground tunnel and leaving the runway at ground level. At Fort Lauderdale FL they can’t do that. Any below-grade tunnel that close to the beach would be impossible to prevent flooding w groundwater. So they left the road at ground level & built a mongo bridge over the road then built the runway on the bridge. Matching taxiway too. The runway end on the bridge is 55 feet higher than the other end on the ground. https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=%213m2%212sen%214v0%216m8%211m7%211s_UQ1Xs7jWbmqT6494q7ERg%212m2%211d26.0644646%212d-80.1411591%213f19.43%214f8.834%215f0.75 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-road-you-ve-ever-been-on/1007098/158 "2025-10-09T00:54:21Z")
Seattle has the 5 under the convention center and a park. https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=%213m2%212sen%214v0%216m8%211m7%211sdWF0I8r0vvZZsGIYwxS3ow%212m2%211d47.6106029%212d-122.3313634%213f189.89%214f9.0%215f0.75 ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-road-you-ve-ever-been-on/1007098/159 "2025-10-09T18:29:12Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > I think this counts. That might be the “magic roundabout” in Swindon, UK, yet the scariest bit are the signs as you approach it - like one giant anti-cyclone surrounded by mini-cyclones actually works well, considering there’s two main roads going through and the end of another main road with the other two fairly minor. And as you can see, you can traverse it like a regular roundabout if you prefer. It’s been a while, yet this one’s’ inner circle is going the “correct, American way” and I recall the one in Swindon went the usual way. Hard to believe they made a similar one in the USA where small “traffic circles” bewilder most. For me - and I made a thread about it - it’s Zig Zag Hill outside Shafetsbury. Steep, with seven switchbacks - two of them hairpin. Google maps pins it as a tourist attraction. All I know is it killed my last clutch though I’ve been up and down it since. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2025, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-road-you-ve-ever-been-on/1007098/160 "2025-10-09T23:42:51Z")
> [@Coriolanus](#): > > Hard to believe they made a similar one in the USA where small “traffic circles” bewilder most. Did I miss something? I’m fairly sure there’s no equivalent to the Magic Roundabout in the US. If there is, where is it? ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2025, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-road-you-ve-ever-been-on/1007098/161 "2025-10-10T01:15:41Z")
It’s been six years, so I was confused that the inner roundabout does in fact go anti-clockwise (counter clockwise). Going from work to home (it was never great to drive that way in the morning) I usually swung south so just one mini-roudabout on the south side and I was on my way. I could have taken the inner roundabout for the same result. Even swung around every mini this way and that. Nobody drove really fast and even for a courteous former NYC driver like me drivers in the UK are generally courteous (gotta be with lots of 1 - 1.5 lane two-way roads and one-way bridges for two way traffic). In 1999 I drove in Bucharest, Romania (dunno if anything has changed besides the money to Euros). They had one big roundabout (unsure if it was in fact full round) in the center of “town” (such as it was) where several roads met. No traffic lights. What cars from each branch would do is inch up further and further till any approaching traffic in the “circle” didn’t feel inclined to try and pass by, so they’d stop and now the encroaching lane took over till it happened to their flow of traffic. Anarchy over Magic. ---
**Author:** ![Ancient\_Nerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@Ancient\_Nerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ancient_Nerd)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2025, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-road-you-ve-ever-been-on/1007098/162 "2025-10-10T03:15:52Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Did I miss something? I’m fairly sure there’s no equivalent to the Magic Roundabout in the US. If there is, where is it? [New roundabout in California](https://www.google.com/maps/@36.8952245,-121.4277386,594m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTAwNy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%253D%253D) It’s an intersection between some local roads and was built in just the past year or two. Newspaper articles suggest that it confuses people. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-road-you-ve-ever-been-on/1007098.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdest-road-you-ve-ever-been-on/1007098.md?page=9)