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A freeway interchange dubbed the “most hated” in Britain has become an unlikely visitor attraction.
Known as Spaghetti Junction, the tangle of concrete roadways and off-ramps was built in 1972 at a cost of £10 million ($17 million), and connects several major arteries in Birmingham, in the heavily populated West Midlands. With 559 concrete pillars, some as high as 25 metres, sprawling over 12 hectares, of land, the junction has been declared by the Guinness Book of Records “the most complex interchange on the British road system.”
And now sightseers are queuing to get a closer look at the monstrosity, paying $25 each for guided walks amid the drone of thousands of vehicles on the M6 freeway overhead. Visitors on the Explore Birmingham tours — which are sold out two months in advance — learn that the ribbons of asphalt are reinforced by 13,000 tons of steel and serve 18 different routes. Anyone keen enough — or significantly bored — would need to travel 120 km, to traverse every road in the system.
But there’s more to the motorway maze than meets the eye. Below its car decks are street art, wildlife, parks, canals and even a beach.
“I really like how it looks,” tourist William James told reporters. “It’s quite strange and dystopian.” He added: “I’m aware there’s distaste toward things like Spaghetti Junction and it not being something to be proud of in Britain, but stuff like this is a crucial part of our history.”
Guide Al Hassall is not surprised by the popularity of the tour. “It’s a lot more interesting than people think,” he said. “Most people don’t realize it’s got a complex water system below it. I live nearby and it’s not as loud as you think it might be.”