There are plans to convert a big highway/interstate interchange in Illinois and, per the norm, some drivers are not happy about it. They may be overreacting and they may be the same drivers who struggle to navigate through a roundabout.
Illinois Department of Transportation
The plan is to convert the on and off-ramps of the interchange into a diverging diamond interchange (DDI) on Illinois 38 at Interstate 39 interchange (exit 99) in the City of Rochelle.
The comments regarding the plans, like the one above, are too good to ignore.
Waste of money, this is not a congested area! Why fix what ain’t broken???
The answer is simple, somebody somewhere knows something we don’t, I think? The best comment is about the aerial view of the rendered plans.
It looks like a medical drawing of fallopian tubes.
Illinois Department of Transportation
There’s no arguing with that but, seriously, what’s the deal with diverging diamond interchanges?
Here’s the thing, these diamond interchanges are designed with safety and efficiency in mind. They allow for smooth and uninterrupted turns when getting on or off the interstate.
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Diverging Diamond Interchange Safety & Efficiency
You know how annoying it can be to wait for that perfect gap in traffic to make a left turn? These interchanges will eliminate that hassle by redirecting traffic in a way that avoids those tricky left turns against oncoming traffic.
Plus, they have fewer traffic signal phases, which means less stopping and waiting at red lights.
These interchanges actually make the roads safer. According to a national study, they reduced crashes by an average of 37 percent and cut down on injury and fatal accidents by a whopping 54 percent.
Diverging Diamond Interchange Cost-Effectiveness
Another thing to consider is that these diamond interchanges are cost-effective. They often make use of existing bridge structures and right-of-ways, which means they save money by not having to build new structures or acquire additional land.
And since they can be constructed faster and with less impact on us motorists, that means less time spent dealing with construction-related headaches. (I’ll call that a win any day.)
Illinois Department of Transportation
While I get why some Illinois drivers might scratch their heads at these diamond interchanges, maybe it’s time for some drivers to brush up on their driving skills and embrace these interchanges with open arms.
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