Tag:highway=turning loop

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. The standard tile layer renders highway=turning_loop the same as highway=turning_circle.

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

• highway=turning_circle - similar in construction and purpose to a turning loop, but does not have a non-traversable island
• highway=mini_roundabout - traversable island at the junction of two or more highways
• junction=roundabout - used at the junction of two or more highways with a non-traversable island
• A comparison of circular and widened road features in OSM