This entry was posted on 2/19/2010 8:51 PM and is filed under uncategorized.
According to this week's Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the following I-85 interchanges in Gwinnett County could be radically redesigned...
- GA 140/Jimmy Carter Boulevard (Exit 99) - Pleasant Hill Road (Exit 104)
The radical redesign would convert both interchanges into a new concept called the "diverging diamond", which "provides a freer flow of traffic by favoring left turns from the overpass onto the interstate." Here is a virtual model from Fisher Associates...
Last June, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT) completed America's first "diverging diamond" at the I-44/MO 13 interchange in Springfield. MODOT officials say that they have received feedback from commuters saying that the new design has "totally reduced their time".
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has estimated that the new interchange "accommodates 600 left turns onto the freeway per hour per lane, twice that of those with the regular design".
Here's a MODOT video of this new interchange...
Admittedly, this is a new concept to me, but if I had the time, I'd like to make a special "roadtrip" to Springfield, Missouri, to drive this interchange myself.
Most important of all, will this new radical design bring any significant relief to those who drive through the two (2) I-85 interchanges in question? I'm not quite sure, but given that the Metro Atlanta area is larger than Springfield, and our traffic tends to rank among the worst in the nation, I'll take a "wait-and-see" approach for now.
What do you think about such a radical new interchange? Please feel free to post your comments on my blog.
That's it for now. Thanks for reading and please come back often.
2/19/2010 9:54 PMBryant wrote:
I think that it's an interesting and forward-thinking concept, which would be better in the long run, in my honest opinion, than the traditional protected/permissive left turn. I'd also like to see more roundabouts, multi-lane ones at that. Anything that keeps traffic moving is fine by me. Reply to this
2/20/2010 11:59 AMAlex wrote:
Interstate 590 is gained a DDI at the Winton Road diamond interchange with work starting next March. I think the concept is a good one, as it eliminates left-hand turn movements, which in turn reduces the number of signal cycles. Reply to this
Copyright 2007. Steve Williams. All rights reserved.
DISCLAIMER: "The Georgia Road Geek" is neither affiliated with, nor endorsed by, the State of Georgia, Georgia Department of Transportation, or any other federal, state, or local government agency.
