What do you mean by wasteful? Sure we'd like to see a better use of space in urban design but freeways are meant to keep movement going at as high rate a speed as possible. The ones used by the 400 series hwy's in Ontario are pretty standard for newer hwys built in areas that have space for them around the globe. It would be nice if they did a better job of landscaping them and planting trees in and around the interchanges. I'm sure some would consider tighter corners and slower traffic to be wasteful hwy design if it ads time to ones commute.
Outside of your London, Paris, and Dubai examples they all look fairly similar to me. That Dubai example probably the most efficient design and was most likely designed like so many other things there to look good on an aerial map or from satellite.
Michigan
Source:
wikimedia.org
Missouri
Source:
http://cache3.asset-cache.ne
Atlanta
Source: Google.com
Athens
Source:
www.aktor.gr
These could be anywhere.