Malfunction Junction

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This article is about a problematic highway interchange. For other uses, see Malfunction Junction (disambiguation).

Malfunction Junction is a derisive nickname given by motorists to a confusing, dangerous, or otherwise problematic interchange. The name is generally applied to the following interchanges in the United States:

Interstate 4 and Interstate 275 in Tampa, Florida, due to extended construction and dangerous curves causing traffic jams in every direction during the rush hour.^[1] Map and Aerial photo
Interstate 65 and Interstate 20/59 in Birmingham, Alabama. This interchange has been the site of many accidents including two fiery explosions, one of a gasoline truck on January 5, 2002. Map and Aerial photo
Interstate 96/Jeffries Freeway and M-39/Southfield Freeway in Detroit, Michigan. Map and Aerial photo
Interstate 565 and Memorial Parkway/U.S. Route 231/431 in Huntsville, Alabama, because of its seemingly endless maze of ramps and exits going to at least 6 different roadways. Map and Aerial photo
Interstate 75 with State Route 4, Main Street/State Route 48 and Grand Avenue in Dayton, Ohio.^[2] Map, Aerial photo
Interstate 40 and Interstate 275 (originally Interstate 75) in Knoxville, Tennessee, which caused traffic snarls before diversion of I-75 west of Knoxville and reconfiguration of the interchange.^[3]Map and Aerial photo
Interstate 240 and Interstate 55 in Memphis, Tennessee. Interstate 55 assumes the southbound (from Mississippi) and westbound (from the Mississippi River and Arkansas) routes of this interchange, while Interstate 240, formerly Interstate 255, consists of the northbound and eastbound. Due to the irregular exchange of route markers, expressway exits have been extensively modified to handle the excess amount of traffic (compared to driving from east-to-west or north-to-south). Accidents frequently occured not only to the confusion caused by route changes, but by trucks unprepared for the low clearances used on the Arkansas-bound stretch of Interstate 55. (Although not part of the interchange, tractor trailers and tractor tankers would frequently get lodged under the low bridges found on I-55 west of this junction.) Map and Aerial photo
Interstate 40, Interstate 240 and Interstate 26 in Asheville, North Carolina^[4], which causes traffic at times to come to a standstill up to 5-7 miles east of the junction on I-26, beyond the crossing of the Blue Ridge Parkway, as well as lesser delays in other directions. Sitting in this delay is made less frustrating at least by the natural scenery in the area. Map and Aerial photo
Interstate 70/Interstate 35/Interstate 29/U.S. Route 71 in Kansas City, Missouri. On Interstate 70, there are ten exits in the span of one mile, labeled exits 2A to 2J. Staying on 70, coming east from Kansas, requires being in the left lane as several highways splice off to the right, and then a hard merge to the right as several lanes enter from the left, and only the rightmost remains 70.
Interstate 26 and Interstate 126 in Columbia, South Carolina, prior to the expansion of the I-26 continuation overpass to two lanes from one. Prior to this, 3 lanes departed I-26 for I-126 to head into the capital, and only one lane continued as I-26 towards Charleston.
Interstate 95 at Interstate 10 terminus in Jacksonville, Florida. Due to construction at the interchange this merger is quickly becoming known as "Malfunction Junction". During rush hour on any given day this merger experiences heavy traffic for miles onInterstate 10 as far West as Interstate 295.