Diverging Diamond Interchange Underway on I-515 and U.S. 93-95 at Horizon Drive

[andy3175]

http://www.hendersonpress.com/Articles-News-c-2014-04-11-87554.113122-TRAFFIC-Work-to-begin-on-Diverging-Diamond-Interchange-in-the-summer-expected-to-be-completed-by-fall.html

City Council has approved transforming Horizon Drive interchange at the U.S. 95 into Southern Nevada's first Diverging Diamond Interchange to improve traffic flow, efficiency and safety for cars, bicyclists and pedestrians.

The Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) is intended to alleviate the congestion at the busy Horizon Drive/U.S. 95 connection. The DDI eliminates traditional left-hand turns that have cars cross lanes for oncoming traffic by briefly shifting drivers — and cyclists and pedestrians — to the left side of the road.

By using traffic signals, physical barriers, and pavement markings at each crossover, planners believe the traffic flow can be more safely moved to the left (opposite) side of the roadway. Vehicles turn left onto freeway on-ramps without stopping and without conflicting with through traffic. Bike lanes provide a clearly defined and dedicated lane for bicyclists.

The Federal Highway Administration has reported that the DDI can hand about 650 left turns per hour — twice the amount of a conventional interchange — thus lessening any delay at the busy roadway.

[roadfro]

I see Andy beat me to this topic. I was just going to post this article from the LVRJ Road Warrior column, published today:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/columns-blogs/road-warrior/henderson-get-valley-s-first-diverging-diamond-interchange

Here's a link to a Google Map zoomed to the intersection & interchange
http://goo.gl/maps/1hWM7


The LVRJ article mentions the DDI constructed in Reno at I-580/US 395 & Moana Lane--that one was Nevada's first DDI. It worked wonders for that interchange, which could see some heavy delay at rush hour especially due to the unbalanced traffic flows.

It seems like unbalanced volumes may also exist here, so this DDI could work well. The tricky part will be managing the westbound flows in relation to the signal at Horizon & Horizon Ridge, since there won't be a whole lot of storage space between there and the interchange. (unless they're planning on slightly realigning the ramps to get more storage space). There's also a signal on the east side at Pacific Ave, but that's not a major street so it's less an issue there.

[roadfro]

BUMP

Update on this project, having just read the followup Road Warrior article in the LVRJ. This DDI was scheduled to open on Sunday 2/1/15.
http://www.reviewjournal.com/columns-blogs/road-warrior/driving-wrong-side-road-henderson

[andy3175]

BUMP

Update on this project, having just read the followup Road Warrior article in the LVRJ. This DDI was scheduled to open on Sunday 2/1/15.
http://www.reviewjournal.com/columns-blogs/road-warrior/driving-wrong-side-road-henderson

Thanks ... I enjoyed the schematic and have to wonder if this DDI is the first to feature Nevada/California-style freeway entrance signing? Next time I'm in Vegas, I will have to check this out. At this time, this might be the closest DDI to Southern California as far as I know.

[roadfro]

Thanks ... I enjoyed the schematic and have to wonder if this DDI is the first to feature Nevada/California-style freeway entrance signing? Next time I'm in Vegas, I will have to check this out. At this time, this might be the closest DDI to Southern California as far as I know.

If you're referring to the typical signs with "freeway entrance" sign and assembly, it would be at least the second DDI to use such signing. US 395/I-580 at Moana Lane in Reno proceeds it.