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I-10, Nine Mile Road Interchange Construction Will Not Include Diverging Diamond
March 7, 2024
Construction is beginning on a $55 million Florida Department of Transportation improvement project on I-10 at the Nine Mile Road interchange (Exit 5), but the exit will not be a diverging diamond.
In 2020, FDOT proposed a diverging diamond interchange for the Nine Mile Road Exit and held a public development and study meeting.
However, plants for the current improvement project do not show a diverging diamond traffic pattern.
Planned improvements include replacing the existing I-10 overpass at Nine Mile Road to increase vertical clearance and to accommodate future improvements. The project will enhance traffic safety and mobility for the 62,000 drivers who travel the interchange daily.
The project is expected to be completed by mid-2028.
Road Construction/Lane Closures
During construction, the speed limit on I-10 will be lowered to 60 mph and 35 mph on Nine Mile Road. Lane closures on I-10 will be permitted Sunday through Thursday nights from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., and lane closures on Nine Mile Road will be permitted between 7 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. seven days a week.
Drivers will encounter lane closures and traffic pacing operations on I-10 near Nine Mile Road through Thursday, March 7 between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. as crews perform striping and barrier wall work. Vehicle pacing operations, also known as “rolling roadblocks,” are used to create gaps in traffic so that short-duration construction activities can be completed. In addition, traffic on I-10 will be temporarily shifted to the outside (right) beginning Sunday, March 3 so crews can begin bridge construction work. The shift will be in place until spring 2025.
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 meant to be 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
17 Responses to “I-10, Nine Mile Road Interchange Construction Will Not Include Diverging Diamond”
If going by 9 Mile road widening math, completion of this should be around 2031!
There is a diverging diamond in Malbis, AL and I hate it!! I make frequent trips to Pensacola and so glad I don’t have to deal with one there.
Diverging diamonds are wonderful to those that take time to learn how to use them.
I’m just here for all the comments from the traffic engineers commenting on what FDOT should and shouldn’t do.
The overpass on I10 is damaged and worn out. Heavily loaded trucks from the GE plant have to exit at exit 5 and then get back on I10 bypassing the overpass.
FDOT can go ahead and start this job since they have completed their 3 workdays a year on U.S. 29 in Century for this year.
55 million and 4 years of headaches for nothing. There’s nothing wrong with the interchange now.
The needed more clearance on Hwy 29 so they dug down about 2 feet under the overpass and repaved to give them the clearance. Problem solved in quick time
without affecting I-10 traffic. I had heard about 2 ys ago they were going to dig down on 9 mile the same way to give more clearance but guess they decided to change the plans.
4 yrs to completion is again unreal since it took them that long to complete the 4 lane of
9 mile.
Here we go again..
I just realized it now says the plan doesn’t include the diverging diamond. I am relieved to hear this.
I do not want to see a diverging diamond built at this location where me and my family work and live.
There is Nothing….Nothing Intuitive or safe about a Diverging Diamond Interchange. Instead of traffic traveling in a straight line, The traffic crosses oncoming traffic twice. A normal left turn crosses traffic once. How is this considered “safer”? It is not…
The number of accidents and confusion I see on these interchanges is astounding. For example, A young driver wrecked into my wife on one of these exact type of interchanges due to the changing lanes at the last second where they converge.
These interchanges are built so that the left lane ends in a left only turn which causes a lot of last minute lane changes merging back to the right as people attempt to go straight through the end of the interchange instead of being forced to turn left onto the interstate. This is VERY UNSAFE and causes severe traffic flow issues and accidents.
Stop building these terrible interchanges!
A intersection a Beulah road might be more useful.
They should have fast tracked the I-10/Buelah Road exchange and completed it prior to beginning this construction.
I hope “preparing for future expansion“ means they are preparing 9 mile for six lanes under that bridge.
Wow what a great time of year to start this….and completion date of mid 2028! That area already has a lot of traffic….this project will really hinder the flow. Certainly hope the improvements are worth it.
Welcome to NWFL where we get screwed over on road infrastructure. Went from 160 million to 55 million of not really improving anything.
Man, how many times do they have to rebuild this? Since I’ve been a kid they’ve been rebuilding this intersection probably milking it for years for millions.
I wonder why they changed it?