Three way links

"Trumpet" type interchanges are commonly used to link one highway or road that ends at another. This involves at least one loop ramp connecting incoming or outgoing traffic to the terminating roadway with the continuing freeway.

This type of link is very useful for highways, roads and toll roads, since it concentrates all traffic at a single point, where toll booths can be installed. Double trumpet connections are common in places where a toll road meets another free access road. They can also be useful when most of the traffic on the ending highway goes in a certain direction, leaving the loop ramp for turns with less traffic. They have the advantage of being cheaper connections, having fewer structures and occupying less land than other types of links. They are very useful when the traffic towards the secondary road is not very high. With greater traffic the link does not work well and it is necessary to resort to direct links.

Occasionally, a third ramp can be built outside the loop, making a 270º turn to replace the direct access ramp. An example is the Kingsway tunnel approach in Liverpool, United Kingdom.

Common connection types to provide continuity to three trunk addresses are called complete links in Y or T [2]​. The two pathways are required to impinge on each other approximately perpendicularly. Connecting branches can be superimposed by structures on existing roads if the angle of the intersection requires this. They require a moderate amount of land and the use of a two-level crossing structure. In places with a lot of traffic they are preferable to trumpet type links, since the trumpet loop greatly slows down the speed of vehicles.

4 way links

The clover type link is the simplest connection for four directions, where a single crossing structure between the two main carriageways is sufficient. All left turns are resolved by loop-shaped branches (or all right turns if driving on the left). To go left, vehicles must cross the road they are looking for and then turn a curve, changing direction 270º, emerging at the interchange on the right, and crossing the road from which they had left.

The two main advantages of clovers are that they only require one bridge, making their main cost the land they occupy, and that they generally do not require complex signage or traffic lights to operate. A major defect of clovers is that they require sections of braiding, which decreases their capacity. They also occupy extensive land, so they are more common in rural areas, where surface area is not a problem. The variant that separates the lanes of the braided section by means of a concrete barrier (generating a collector-distributor road) is common, increasing the capacity of these links.

Called stack in Anglo-Saxon literature, an Indonesian star interchange or four-level interchange is a four-way interchange where all left turns are resolved by direct ramps (inner handles) at different levels. To go left (right in countries that drive on the left), vehicles must first turn slightly to the right on the branches to separate themselves from the trunk, and then complete the turn using a road with a structure that crosses both highways, emerging on the right side of the opposite quadrant of the link. An Indonesian star type link therefore has two pairs of branches crossing to the left, which can adopt various configurations (above or below) between both trunks.

This type of links does not suffer from twisting problems, and due to its directional branches, they are generally safe and efficient, supporting very high traffic in all directions.

A road link includes four-level roads, also known as a four-level link. There are some with 5 levels, however they are usually those that have specific ramps for buses or high-capacity vehicles.

This type of link is significantly more expensive and takes up more space than any of the other links, and can also suffer quite a few objections from local residents due to the significant visual impact they generate. Links of this type tend to have a rather complex appearance, which is why they are sometimes described as Spaghetti Links.

A fairly common alternative is the interchange with a roundabout. In this solution, left and right turns are organized in two ways: either by intercepting traffic on one of the two roads that intersect with a roundabout (in the case of a two-level interchange); or by passing all the traffic that turns through a roundabout at a different level than the other two roads (case of a 3-level interchange). Examples of both types can be seen on the Granada Beltway in Spain. As advantages, they have very little land occupation and work very well for low or medium traffic. The main problem is that its capacity is limited by the roundabout itself, on whose capacity the operation of the entire interchange depends. It is very common for these links to become congested when vehicles cannot enter the roundabout, so it is advisable to separate the turns with the highest traffic from the roundabout to alleviate it.

Three way links

"Trumpet" type interchanges are commonly used to link one highway or road that ends at another. This involves at least one loop ramp connecting incoming or outgoing traffic to the terminating roadway with the continuing freeway.

This type of link is very useful for highways, roads and toll roads, since it concentrates all traffic at a single point, where toll booths can be installed. Double trumpet connections are common in places where a toll road meets another free access road. They can also be useful when most of the traffic on the ending highway goes in a certain direction, leaving the loop ramp for turns with less traffic. They have the advantage of being cheaper connections, having fewer structures and occupying less land than other types of links. They are very useful when the traffic towards the secondary road is not very high. With greater traffic the link does not work well and it is necessary to resort to direct links.

Occasionally, a third ramp can be built outside the loop, making a 270º turn to replace the direct access ramp. An example is the Kingsway tunnel approach in Liverpool, United Kingdom.

Common connection types to provide continuity to three trunk addresses are called complete links in Y or T [2]​. The two pathways are required to impinge on each other approximately perpendicularly. Connecting branches can be superimposed by structures on existing roads if the angle of the intersection requires this. They require a moderate amount of land and the use of a two-level crossing structure. In places with a lot of traffic they are preferable to trumpet type links, since the trumpet loop greatly slows down the speed of vehicles.

4 way links

The clover type link is the simplest connection for four directions, where a single crossing structure between the two main carriageways is sufficient. All left turns are resolved by loop-shaped branches (or all right turns if driving on the left). To go left, vehicles must cross the road they are looking for and then turn a curve, changing direction 270º, emerging at the interchange on the right, and crossing the road from which they had left.

The two main advantages of clovers are that they only require one bridge, making their main cost the land they occupy, and that they generally do not require complex signage or traffic lights to operate. A major defect of clovers is that they require sections of braiding, which decreases their capacity. They also occupy extensive land, so they are more common in rural areas, where surface area is not a problem. The variant that separates the lanes of the braided section by means of a concrete barrier (generating a collector-distributor road) is common, increasing the capacity of these links.

Called stack in Anglo-Saxon literature, an Indonesian star interchange or four-level interchange is a four-way interchange where all left turns are resolved by direct ramps (inner handles) at different levels. To go left (right in countries that drive on the left), vehicles must first turn slightly to the right on the branches to separate themselves from the trunk, and then complete the turn using a road with a structure that crosses both highways, emerging on the right side of the opposite quadrant of the link. An Indonesian star type link therefore has two pairs of branches crossing to the left, which can adopt various configurations (above or below) between both trunks.

This type of links does not suffer from twisting problems, and due to its directional branches, they are generally safe and efficient, supporting very high traffic in all directions.

A road link includes four-level roads, also known as a four-level link. There are some with 5 levels, however they are usually those that have specific ramps for buses or high-capacity vehicles.

This type of link is significantly more expensive and takes up more space than any of the other links, and can also suffer quite a few objections from local residents due to the significant visual impact they generate. Links of this type tend to have a rather complex appearance, which is why they are sometimes described as Spaghetti Links.

A fairly common alternative is the interchange with a roundabout. In this solution, left and right turns are organized in two ways: either by intercepting traffic on one of the two roads that intersect with a roundabout (in the case of a two-level interchange); or by passing all the traffic that turns through a roundabout at a different level than the other two roads (case of a 3-level interchange). Examples of both types can be seen on the Granada Beltway in Spain. As advantages, they have very little land occupation and work very well for low or medium traffic. The main problem is that its capacity is limited by the roundabout itself, on whose capacity the operation of the entire interchange depends. It is very common for these links to become congested when vehicles cannot enter the roundabout, so it is advisable to separate the turns with the highest traffic from the roundabout to alleviate it.