WOODBURY- Driving on the left-hand side of the roadway is something only European motorists do, right? Well, not always.
Diversion Diamond Interchanges (DDIs) are structures that temporarily shift traffic to the left within busy intersections, such as highway overpasses. According to officials at the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT), they increase traffic flow and improve safety and navigation for motorists and pedestrians.
DOT operates two DDI’s in the state, one of which is located at the intersection of Route 17 and 32 in Woodbury.
“Motorists and pedestrians in our state where these interchanges are in place are benefiting from increased safety, decreased congestion and vehicle emissions,” said Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez. “By embracing this smart design, communities are experiencing quicker access to destinations such as workplaces, schools, and area businesses.”
Speaking to the time-savings experienced by motorists, Jason Hilton, NYSDOT Area Construction Supervisor said, “There are just a lot of issues with traffic flow. After implementing the DDI we did see a noticeable improvement in the travel time along the Route 32 Corridor. It actually cut the travel time down by about half, allowing people to get to their destination that much quicker. Whether it be the shopping, or the school buses getting to school on time.”
