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New diverging diamond interchange opens in ChampionsGate
A brand new diverging diamond interchange opened in ChampionsGate, a project the Florida Department of Transportation began a year ago to help alleviate traffic in the area.
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. - Drivers will notice a new traffic pattern in Central Florida.
A brand new diverging diamond interchange opened in ChampionsGate, a project the Florida Department of Transportation began a year ago to help alleviate traffic in the area.
Local driver Angie Crowder says she has a hard time getting on Interstate 4 due to the congestion.
"It's been really hard to get on I-4. It's taken me 45 minutes to get on I-4 and I only live two miles," Crowder said.
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At the new interchange, however, drivers will be able to cross over to the left side of the road, making it easier for them to get from County Road 532 to I-4.
"We see almost 64,000 vehicles a day traveling through the interchange of I-4 and CR 532," David Parks, a FDOT spokesman said. "This new diverging diamond does two things, it reduces the potential conflict points for motorists and it also greatly improves traffic flow."
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A diverging diamond interchange has fewer traffic lights and lets vehicles make a left turn without crossing in front of oncoming traffic. This allows for high volumes of traffic to move through an intersection without increasing the number of lanes and traffic signals and provides easier access to the interstate.
"We are able to reduce a traffic phase, that means you spend less time waiting for a green light when you are here at the interchange and we came move almost double the volume versus what we had hare at the start of construction," Parks said.
"I think it will improve it, we'll see how it goes," Crowder said.
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The project is also adding bike lanes and sidewalks along CR-532 to improve safety and connectivity for bicyclists and pedestrians.
FDOT plans to complete the entire project by early 2023.