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Welcome To The Airport That's Built Over A Motorway, Because Why Not?

Welcome To The Airport That's Built Over A Motorway, Because Why Not?

Leipzig airport built one of its runways over a motorway. Thankfully, planes don't actually land on it at that point, but still - not cool

Mischa Pearlmen

Mischa Pearlmen

It looks like it's been Photoshopped, but no - that plane is actually there, dwarfing the cars that drive by on the motorway beneath it.

Getty

And while building an airport runway over a motorway might sound like a silly idea - in fact, it sounds positively ridiculous and dangerous - the above is a regular sight for drivers on the A14 autobahn in Germany.

The road, which links the port city of Wismar with the town of Nossen, pretty much runs through Leipzig Airport, hence the somewhat unusual configuration.

Thankfully, planes don't actually land on that part of the runway - they just taxi over the motorway before or after landing. Still worried that something could go drastically wrong? Guess what - there's also a railway which runs across and above the motorway.

WATCH: PROPOSAL FLASHMOB GREETS PASSENGER AT AIRPORT

What's perhaps most surprising is that it's not the only runway in the world that crosses over a motorway. Amsterdam Schiphol airport has just built a new, sixth runway quite a distance from the airport itself, meaning the taxiway has to cross the nearby A5 road. It can apparently take up to 20 minutes for a plane to taxi to and from the runway and terminal building.

And then there's Gibraltar airport, which takes things to the extreme - because if you thought a bridge was bad, no bridge is surely even worse. Instead, there are traffic lights to stop cars getting in the way of aircraft as they pass. Not even a barrier or anything. Just traffic lights.

Gibraltar Airport.
Getty

Gone into a blind panic yet? Here's a bonus tidbit of info for you - that runway was also built to extend into the sea because of a shortage of natural land. So even if you're on the plane you may find yourself gritting your teeth and hoping for the best.

Now, we don't mind flying or driving. Both are very useful ways of getting places, depending where you're going, but no one wants to add undue stress to the process. We're not ruling out trips to Leipzig or Gibraltar - we're sure they're lovely. Bloody hell, though, is anyone else's stomach knotting at the thought of those runways?

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: Interesting, Community