Birmingham’s Spaghetti Junction deemed ‘a mess’ as locals rush to defend ‘masterpiece’

Spaghetti Junction has been described as “a mess” by a social media account dedicated to sharing light-hearted photos of bad road routes. Terrible Maps has uploaded a map of the Gravelly Hill intersection to their 1.2 million Facebook and Instagram followers, and the comments are hilarious.

The confusing-looking aerial layout of the interchange has baffled followers around the world as they try to understand the destination at junction six of the M6. Terrible Maps wrote: “What a mess. I couldn’t have designed it better myself. If you’re English, you’ll know where that is.”

Not only did the post attract a number of bewildered drivers, especially in America where roads are often organized into square blocks, but Brummies jumped to its defence, calling it “an architectural masterpiece”.

Read more: I went to the ‘desperately underrated’ attraction in Birmingham and wanted to put my head in a fly trap

Sign up to Brum Food Club’s free weekly newsletter for updates on what’s happening in the town’s food and drink scene.

Referring to the Salford Circus roundabout, TheCloudSage said on Instagram: “Seems fitting that part of it is called a circus!”

Dillon Hayne wrote: “And is that a roundabout in the lower right corner? Those on their own are cool, but mixed with a freeway interchange it’s a total monstrosity.” Val Roeder added: “Now THIS. It’s the most terrible MAP you’ve ever posted. Eessh”.

However, Brummies and lovers of engineering feats were quick to defend the exchange. James Harrison wrote: “Canal, river, old road, railway and highway – all in one special place.”

Peter Mullins said: “Hey! Give back my Spaghetti! It’s an architecture masterclass. Pick a lane and stick to it and get where you want to be.”

Kevin Gardner agreed, saying: “Personally I think it’s very well planned infrastructure given the site. It’s a narrow corridor surrounded by residential areas and there’s, I think, a canal underneath as well. It’s quite easy to drive, in my experience, because the signage is good.”

Drew Nuttall made a great point about the aerial map: “You don’t have to understand it from the sky; you have to understand it from the road”.

This week, Spaghetti Junction celebrates its 52nd anniversary. It first opened on 24 May 1972 as the meeting point of the A38(M) Aston Expressway and the M6 ​​motorway.

What do you think? Tell us in the comments below