{"id":2254,"date":"2016-10-17T10:37:57","date_gmt":"2016-10-17T14:37:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aaroads.com\/blog\/?p=2254"},"modified":"2018-01-18T15:19:30","modified_gmt":"2018-01-18T20:19:30","slug":"university-parkway-at-i-75-ddi-progress-sarasota-florida","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aaroads.com\/blog\/university-parkway-at-i-75-ddi-progress-sarasota-florida\/","title":{"rendered":"University Parkway at I-75 DDI Progress – Sarasota, Florida"},"content":{"rendered":"

Construction continues on the $74.5 million project<\/a> to convert the busy diamond interchange linking Interstate 75 with University Parkway in Sarasota, Florida to a large diverging diamond (DDI). Work runs through fall 2017 on what is touted as the state’s first DDI.<\/p>\n

In addition to building new overpasses for Interstate 75 above University Parkway, the extended ramps to the east-west arterial, and the ten-lane wide DDI, construction also adds auxiliary lanes to the freeway south to Florida 780 (Fruitville Road). We drove through the project area over the weekend:<\/p>\n

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One lane of traffic currently departs for University Parkway on I-75 south.<\/p><\/div>\n

Upon completion, two-lane off-ramps will take motorists from the freeway to a five-lane separation for the parkway west to Sarasota and east to Lakewood Ranch.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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A temporary bridge carries southbound traffic over University Parkway while crews build new permanent overpasses for Interstate 75.<\/p><\/div>\n

The new spans will accommodate 12 overall lanes between the respective on and off ramps below.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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\nTraffic shifts back to the original southbound mainline as work adds the extended on-ramp from University Parkway.<\/p><\/div>\n

The construction zone is a regular location of traffic back-ups due to the S-curves currently in place.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Sound wall installation on the approach to Exit 210, as work extends south to Florida 780.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Interstate 75 south at Exit 210. The on-ramp from University Parkway will form an auxiliary lane through to Florida 780 (Fruitville Road).<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Heading north from Florida 780 (Fruitville Road), construction focuses on expanding I-75 within the median.<\/p><\/div>\n

The freeway will accommodate eight overall lanes between Exits 210 and 213 upon completion of the project.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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One half mile ahead of the current diamond interchange (Exit 213) with University Parkway.<\/p><\/div>\n

Displayed as County Road 610 along I-75, University Parkway is unnumbered along its route between the suburban Lakewood Ranch community to the east and by The Mall at University Town Center and Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) to the west.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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\nThe extended off-ramp for University Parkway appears along side Interstate 75 north.<\/p><\/div>\n

Two lanes will separate from the mainline ahead of a five-lane partition for the DDI.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Spanning University Parkway, northbound travelers pass by the temporary bridge for I-75 south.<\/p><\/div>\n

University Parkway straddles the Manatee and Sarasota County line west to U.S. 301.<\/p>\n

See also the Florida Department of Transportation presentation showing the final configuration for the University Parkway DDI:<\/p>\n