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DeSantis Proposes $162 Million For Six Laning I-10, Diverging Diamond At Nine Mile Exit
January 31, 2023
Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the Moving Florida Forward initiative to expedite transportation projects over the next four years.
The initiative includes $162 million to widen I-10 to six lanes from the eastbound weigh station to Nine Mile. Road. It would also reconstruct the interchange at Nine Mile Road as a diverging diamond.
If passed by the legislature, the proposal would invest $4 billion of general revenue, redirect an average of $131 million annually to the State Transportation Work Program, and leverage additional funding over the next four years for a total of $7 billion to strengthen Florida’s transportation infrastructure to accommodate the growing number of people that rely on Florida’s roadways.
What is a diverging diamond interchange?
According to the Federal Highway Administration, a diverging diamond interchange is a simple design innovation that improves safety and mobility, often at a much lower cost, compared to conventional interchange designs. The key to what makes a DDI work so well is how left turns are handled.
The DDI resembles a conventional diamond interchange, which is the most common form in the United States. Drivers make right turns at a DDI just as they would at a regular diamond interchange.
The crossover intersections are what make DDIs different, and they are very intuitive for the driver. The crossovers gently transition – or diverge – traffic from the right side of the road to the left side of the road and then back again. Because traffic is on the left hand side between the crossovers, all left turns occur without having to cross opposing traffic. The road geometry, signs, and pavement markings all work together to make this very simple. In cities where DDIs have been built, drivers say they don’t even notice the crossover intersections. according to the Federal Highway Administration.
Comments
24 Responses to “DeSantis Proposes $162 Million For Six Laning I-10, Diverging Diamond At Nine Mile Exit”
I would be happy if they’d just change the name of exit 5 to “Nine Mile Road”. instead of “Alt 90″.
Is this diamond solution meant to ease the traffic backup that exists in the morning around 8am with people exiting I10 Westbound Exit 5 onto HWY 90 Westbound? According to the diagram, There will still be a stoplight at the bottom of the exit which is the current culprit for long lines trying to exit off I10 which far exceeds the capacity of the exit 5 off-ramp. This causes traffic to come to a stop in the right lane on I10 prior to the exit creating a dangerous situation.
I drive the diverging diamond in Malbis all the time. It works great because it cuts two lights into essentially one light and allows continuous flow in several directions.
But… the issue is never the diverging diamond, it is always the traffic lights near the interchange. The Navy Federal traffic light is so dang long because they’re trying to flow all that traffic out that Nine Mile backs up. And while Pathstone currently does not have a traffic light, it inevitably will get its own light in the future. What really needs to happen in that corridor is for Beulah Road to get widened to four lanes from I-10 to US90, get its own interchange ramp for I-10, and the traffic light at Nine Mile/Beulah Road expanded so there’s dedicated right turn lanes.
but wasn’t that interchange updated not so long ago?? Is it broken? Confused.
Steve, I have used the diverging diamond in Malbis and have no problem with them. My concern for this specific location is that the 7:30 am rush hour traffic has two non-stop flows of extremely heavy traffic – people in town going out to Navy Federal, and people who live out here going to town. Those two flows will be merged together on one piece of westbound road and will diverge only after they have criss-crossed between each other to change lanes while traffic is flowing. That is going to be a problem unless they add something to the design to handle it. As for the work involved, it definitely will be a major project because the current passage under the interstate bridges is too narrow and too shallow. They will have to build new I-10 bridges to span a greater distance and increase the clearance underneath. That project is going to take a lot of work. Sure, it is needed, but it is going to be chaos for a long time.
I would rather this 162 million be spent on i-110 North of 10, going north of cantonment joining back in to highway 29!
“TJ” your concerns need not be. Go to Malbis and you will see getting on east bound from the direction (Mall) is pretty easy. FAR easier than crossing over like you do now. You will only need to watch the merging traffic that is also headed east that is it. SO much better. Every turn is faster and the traffic dont bunch up exiting the interstate which is very much needed at the 9 mile exit
ALSO to answer why it was not done during the last upgrade at that exit. Plans have to be approved and getting that approved was harder than a just expanding each lane. But most of the work is done to convert it to the DIAMOND as all the lanes are wider, they just have to add a little and redo some of the lights and poles and lines. Nothing like building a whole exit..
ALSO I agree we need the that other near the dump to open up, that would make that area BLOOM. Its already a great area full of new subdivisions.
What will be will be…
Well……here’s to another 10 years of traffic delays and orange road cones because they will take the lowest (AKA slowest) bidder who will take years and years to complete and by the time it’s complete it will be obsolete.LOL
I have no problem with a diverging diamond, but as someone who drives that intersection twice a day, I don’t think this one will work as it is currently designed. If I am driving westbound on Nine Mile Road with the intent getting on I-10 eastbound, like thousands of other people every morning, then I will have to criss-cross through traffic to swap lanes with people exiting westbound I-10 to continue westbound on Nine Mile as they go to Navy Federal. The two traffic flows will have to swap lanes with each other in a very short distance. I predict it will cause jams, delays and accidents as people cut in between each other in moving traffic. I will watch for the public comment meeting to voice those concerns.
Everyone seems to complain, and complain, and complain, about something. Why can’t you just say thank you for paying attention to ‘nothingsville” Pensacola for a change? We have the ugliest interstate our of all Florida. The most trashiest section and neglection of FDOT anywhere in the state and now maybe a chance to use a new entrance/exit so we can drive somewhere cleaner.
I have successfully navigated DD Interchanges in Georgia, Delaware & Texas. Once folks get used to them they work great. I did not know there was one in Malbis, will check it out just to say I did!
Next step – replace 4 way stops with round-abouts/traffic circles. Europe & the UK are full of them and they greatly ease traffic. At busy times at least 2 cars at a time can go through without coming to a full stop.
Don’t be idiots- he is only using this as a ” I’m smarter than all of you ” ploy to get navy feds backing for his oval office run. And- like someone already pointed out- the fdot just completed that re- do of that interchange.
Invest the money for the exchange into a new exit at Belauh
We’ll need immigrant road workers to make this project done effectively on time. Challenge is Desantis is against immigration in general, it may take years after schedule.
More 9 mile construction and a Diverging Diamond where it least needs to be. What a waste!
Orange barrel futures are look good though.
Diverging diamonds are the way to go. They aren’t difficult if you pay attention.
We’re getting our very own Mix-Master! Other states have them, they are fast & fun.
He might put money towards these projects..but it will take forever to complete..I drive for a living and it takes years to start and finish these construction jobs. He’ll probably backdoor all the people that don’t want the turnpike extension…follow the money.
Odd this wasn’t this determined to be the best configuration of the interchange before the construction project that was recently completed at this very intersection. Seems like a waste of $$ to have completed the long-term 9-Mile improvement project only to tear it up so soon. Better to spend the new $162M on the proposed Beulah interchange, which would divert traffic away from the 9-Mile exit. The Beulah interchange would also impact the interstate near the weigh stations, so with the DDI project coming first, sounds like DOT will be building it up to tear it down yet again. Do Beulah interchange first!
I would personally rather than spend that money on i-110 north of 10 to north of cantonment red light
That diamond pattern is done over in Malbis and works great. At first when they was building it I just knew it was going to be a cluster but it turned out well. Traffic moves freely and a lot less wrecks.
The diverging diamond they put in Malbis is a mess. It has made me hate even going through there now.
Is this similar to what they did in Spanish Fort where Tameron Honda is? If so it is kinda confusing, but seems to work.