The Florida Department of Transportation has transformed an existing diamond interchange into Jacksonville's first diverging diamond interchange (DDI) located at JTB and San Pablo, one of the worst spots for traffic in all of Duval County.
What is a Diverging Diamond Interchange?
A diverging diamond interchange navigates two directions of traffic to the opposite sides of the road as they pass under a freeway. In this case, traffic on the left and right sides of San Pablo Blvd. (the red and purple arrows in the image below) will flow to the opposite sides of the road as they pass under JTB (the black arrows in the image below).
Improved Safety & Traffic Flow
According to Burgess & Niple (B&N) - who was hired by the FDOT to lead the project - this DDI upgrade will help "ease congestion, improve safety and accommodate future development in Jacksonville, Florida." It also provides "improved access for hospital patients and employees" and includes bike and pedestrian enhancements. The DDI was also designed in a way that allows further expansions if needed.
Watson Civil, another contractor working with the FDOT on the new DDI, highligted the importance of a project like this.
"[This] design...falls in line with the Federal Highway Administration’s Every Day Counts initiative. It’s a program that encourages the use of technologies and methods that improves travel time, safety, project and contract management, saving energy, risks, cost, and environmental resources."
FDOT says there is still a lot of work to be done, including traffic signal timing adjustments, curb installation, and paving. The new traffic signals use what are called signal loop detection devices, which detect when vehicles are waiting. This technology will ideally shorten wait times.
First Coast News interviewed an FDOT spokesperson who projected "the diverging traffic pattern can cut the number of crashes in half." Now that traffic is routed to the opposite side of the road, there will be fewer left turns.
Here's a video of what this new DDI looks like from a driver's perspective.
Watson Civil, another contractor working with the FDOT on the new DDI, highligted the importance of a project like this.
"[This] design...falls in line with the Federal Highway Administration’s Every Day Counts initiative. It’s a program that encourages the use of technologies and methods that improves travel time, safety, project and contract management, saving energy, risks, cost, and environmental resources."
FDOT says there is still a lot of work to be done, including traffic signal timing adjustments, curb installation, and paving. The new traffic signals use what are called signal loop detection devices, which detect when vehicles are waiting. This technology will ideally shorten wait times.
First Coast News interviewed an FDOT spokesperson who projected "the diverging traffic pattern can cut the number of crashes in half." Now that traffic is routed to the opposite side of the road, there will be fewer left turns.
Here's a video of what this new DDI looks like from a driver's perspective.
While Jacksonville continues to improve upon the safety of its roads, accidents will happen and people will get injured. If you are one of these people, call Alisa Wilkes, Jacksonville car accident lawyer. She is quick to respond, eager to help, and aggressive in demanding full compensation from big insurance companies.