Tag:highway=turning_loop

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Public-images-osm logo.svg highway = turning_loop
Turning circle - geograph.org.uk - 991834.jpg
Description
A widened area of a highway with a non-traversable island for turning around, often circular and at the end of a road. Show/edit corresponding data item.
Group: highways
Used on these elements
may be used on nodesshould not be used on waysshould not be used on areasshould not be used on relations (except multipolygon relations)
See also
Status: de facto

A turning loop is an often circular road segment at the end of a road that is used for turning around, similar to a highway=turning_circle but with a non-traversable traffic island in the middle, which may be higher or lower than the surrounding roadway. Unlike a junction=roundabout or highway=mini_roundabout, only one road connects to it (other than driveways and service roads).

This tag was originally created because some mappers found it more convenient to map a node than a loop but were misusing highway=mini_roundabout. [1] The standard tile layer renders highway=turning_loop the same as highway=turning_circle. [2]

How to map

There are two methods for mapping a turning loop, either of which is valid:

  • Tag the node at the end of a highway=* way with the highway=turning_loop tag. The node should be located in the middle of the traffic island.
  • Draw a closed highway=* way around the traffic island and connect it to the main road, giving it the same name. If traffic is required to flow in a particular direction around the traffic island, add oneway=yes. This method is preferred for large turning circles, because navigation applications decide whether the user is on- or off-route based on their distance from the roadway. This method also makes it possible to accurately map features inside the loop, such as parking spaces, trees, or a flagpole.

If a turning loop has been mapped as a way, do not remap it as a simple node, as that would remove detail from the map.

Examples

See also