Westfield finally does the highway lane management it had been skipping: lanes merge and exit only where they should, sound-barrier sections widen to three and four lanes, part of the highway is sunken with a 9 m overpass and new ramps, roadside parking near the busiest crossing goes, more offices fill the demand, a new tram line reaches the mall, and the first passenger trains serve the tourist area.
What happens in this episode
Episode 29 added tours and offices, but traffic was still piling up, partly because of the transport tower, a viewing tower that draws visitors. Citizens also made odd detours when shorter routes existed. Time to deal with it properly.
How it was built
Lane management on the highway
I’d been lazy about lane management recently, and it showed. Sound-barrier highway sections are upgraded to three and four lanes where needed. Then each merge and exit gets its rules: on-ramp lanes merge only into the leftmost lanes, only the right lane exits, and the rest continue. Merges should start early, and three nodes is usually a good length. The remaining junctions were done in a timelapse.
A sunken highway
Watching vans showed they had to turn around because of the layout. Part of the highway is sunk to the level of the rest, a road goes over it at 9 m, and new on- and off-ramps go in. It’s lower, which makes crossing easier for pedestrians and cyclists.
The busiest crossing
This is one of the busiest crossings in town, and I wouldn’t want to live there. Lane rules, upgrades to four lanes and turn restrictions help. Roadside parking is banned along major roads, with parking still allowed in a cul-de-sac and side streets. After that, traffic started to move. A raised connection with a three-lane sound-barrier section removed the old exit-and-re-enter lane switching.
More offices and trams
New office and commercial zones went up within seconds, and office demand dropped. Small housing types were removed because nobody wanted to live there anymore. A new tram line links the area to existing tracks and stops by the mall.
The first passenger trains
Westfield gets its first passenger train line: a track rising from −9 m with curves, a terminal at the end of a road, and a station near the tourist area. It’s not ideal, but it works. The city is slowly becoming really huge.
Video chapters
- 00:00Detours and the transport tower
- 03:45Highway lane management
- 07:13Merges three nodes long
- 13:12A sunken highway and a 9 m overpass
- 20:48The busiest crossing
- 28:20No roadside parking
- 32:25A raised connection and fewer lane switches
- 40:00More offices
- 43:37A tram line to the mall
- 47:25The first passenger train
Clicking a chapter starts the video above at that point.
FAQ
How long should a highway merge be?
About three nodes is usually a good length. Set lane connections so on-ramp lanes merge only into the right lanes and only the rightmost lane exits.
Why do cars make strange detours in Cities: Skylines?
Often a missing turn option or a lane rule forces them to turn around. Watch individual vehicles to see where they want to go.
Does banning roadside parking help traffic?
Yes, especially near major crossings. In Westfield the jam at the busiest crossing started moving once parking there was removed.