TxDOT is making intersection improvements to Ranch-to-Market (RM) 1431 (University Boulevard) at I-35 in Round Rock.
Roadway Improvements
Improvements include the following:
A DDI is a new intersection design that addresses congestion by allowing vehicles to travel more quickly through an intersection. It increases traffic flow by temporarily shifting traffic to the left side of the road, allowing through-traffic and left-turning traffic to proceed through the intersection simultaneously. This eliminates the need for left-turn arrows, which allows more flexibility addressing current and future traffic volumes. Read the fact sheet and view the diagram to learn more.
The project will cost an estimated $7 million. Construction began in October 2014 and is expected to take about a year to complete. The contractor is Capital Excavation Company of Austin.
Design
Similar to the design of a conventional diamond intersection, the DDI differs in the way the left and through-traffic navigates on the mainlanes. The purpose of this innovative design is to accommodate turning movements onto and from University Drive, while eliminating the need for a left-turn bay and signal phase at the signalized intersections. The design increases safety by reducing the number of potential conflict points between cross-traffic and left-turn movements.
Both north and southbound frontage road through-traffic will be accommodated by collector-distributor roads along I-35. The northbound collector-distributor road is already in place and the southbound collector-distributor road is included as part of the improvements.
How Diverging Diamond Intersections Work
A DDI creates a diamond-shaped pattern in the intersection and temporarily shifts traffic to the left side of the roadway prior to entering the intersection.
How it works:
Videos
Benefits
This innovative DDI design is particularly effective at locations that have high volumes of left-turn traffic. These relatively low-cost improvements work by reducing potential crash points at intersections and by allowing more cars to move through an intersection. This means a reduction in delays and travel time.
Other benefits of a DDI include:
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TxDOT Austin District
(512) 832-7000
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