We propose an optical 90 degrees hybrid where no waveguide intersection in coupling to balanced photodiodes is required for coherent detection. The proposed device consisting of a paired-interference 2 X 4 multimode interference (MMI) coupler, a phase shifter, and a 2 X 2 MMI coupler exhibited quadrature phase response over a 94-nm-wide spectral range. (C) 2009 Optical Society of America