Cloverleafs of the Capital Region

Cloverleafs have long fallen out of popularity due to the dangerous weaving conditions they create in heavy traffic but are still used in some cases where two major arterials cross, yet there is not enough traffic to justify building a three or four level stack. Capital Region superhighways where largely built after the first big group of superhighways where completed, so traditional cloverleafs are rare, or the original designs seriously modified.

NY 7 and I-787 in Troy.

A classic cloverleaf with a fly-over/fly-under ramp for the dominate South bound traffic heading out of Troy. The curlique heading onto Alternate Route 7 can get notrouiusly congested at Rush Hour.

NY 374 and I-787 in South Troy.

Another partial cloverleaf, with a confusing left-handed exit on NY 374, divering from a former one-way ramp.

Exit 1 Northway and Free I-90.

Until the mid-1980s, this used to be a pure cloverleaf, and notorious for congestion at rush hour.

Exit 2 Northway and Central Avenue.

This cloverleaf isn’t a pure cloverleaf two ramps end in stop lights, near Colonie Center.

Exit 13 Northway and US 9 in Saratoga.

Both places where the Northway crosses US 9, there are very traditional looking cloverleafs, except at a slanted angle.

Exit 17 Northway and US 9 in Saratoga.

The cloverleaf alway seemed so overpowered and absurd for the relatively lightly traveled US 9W.