Colorado Getting Its First DDI

[Milepost61]

Project funding has been locked in for CDOT to build the state's first diverging diamond interchange at US 6-50 and I-70 Exit 26 on the west side of Grand Junction.

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/i70-interchange-work-to-begin

[KEK Inc.]

Isn't that like the 10th in the country?  Those are rare. 

[J N Winkler]

Those are rare.

For the time being yes.  But in the US at least, interchange design is often dominated by fads:  SPUIs, dumbbell roundabout interchanges, and now DDIs.  The DDI fad has now taken off sufficiently that DDIs are used for new-build interchanges, not just to head off bridge replacements, as was the case with the original DDI in Springfield.

[Milepost61]

There's about 16 in the country now and many more on the way.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diverging_diamond

[NE2]

The DDI seems to be a good fit when most traffic is turning.

[The High Plains Traveler]

Apparently Colorado is getting its second DDI. I was watching KOAA-5 tonight when I saw a story of improvements to Fillmore Street in Colorado Springs - then they jumped to a story of how CDOT is going to improve the I-25/Fillmore interchange by constructing it as a DDI. The reporter called it the first DDI in Colorado. I went to their web site but did not find this story; otherwise I would have posted a correction of that aspect of the story.

In other news, the Colorado Springs Gazette has condemned the plans to improve the I-25/Fillmore interchange as another invasion of European socialist ideas.

[Milepost61]

Hmmm.....The Fillmore interchange has the Chestnust St intersection immediately to the west side of it. I'm really curious how they would get a DDI to work with that. Seems like a better candidate for roundabouts than a DDI.

[The High Plains Traveler]

Hmmm.....The Fillmore interchange has the Chestnust St intersection immediately to the west side of it. I'm really curious how they would get a DDI to work with that. Seems like a better candidate for roundabouts than a DDI.

And a lot of the TV story involved a PPRTA project with Chestnut and Fillmore prior to doing the DDI construction, so Chestnut traffic will be moved away from the freeway there.  EDIT: here's the video on the construction project: http://www.koaa.com/videos/fillmore-interchange-update/

[thenetwork]

Work on the Grand Junction (I-70/US-6/US-50) DDI is supposed to begin within a couple of weeks, in advance of not one, but TWO truck stops to be built at this exit around the same time.

[Billy F 1988]

Oooh. This outta be interesting.

[kphoger]

Work on the Grand Junction (I-70/US-6/US-50) DDI is supposed to begin within a couple of weeks, in advance of not one, but TWO truck stops to be built at this exit around the same time.

That should give some good evidence (pro or con) for DDI functionality.  There will be plenty of data points for large vehicles turning.

[Milepost61]

Thread resurrection.......D-Day for this DDI will be Thursday night this week for implementation. The switch had originally been scheduled for December but was delayed due to winter weather.