Ontario drivers may soon find themselves at the province’s first branching diamond interchange, set to open this fall.
The new interchange is located at Glendale Avenue and Queen Elizabeth Highway (QEW) in Niagara.
According to the Department of Transportation, the interchange is being installed to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow for drivers getting on and off the QEW at Glendale Avenue.
This is achieved by reconfiguring the traffic lanes to allow direct access to the four directions of the highway.
The diverging diamond interchange eliminates the need for drivers to turn left when entering or exiting the highway by using a series of interconnected intersection lanes controlled by traffic lights and highway signs.
This image shows how traffic will flow at the Niagara Diverging Diamond Interchange. (Ministry of Transport)
“A diverging diamond interchange provides easier access and flow for traffic, cyclists and pedestrians,” the ministry said in a statement to CTV News Toronto. “This junction design will reduce the number of vehicle conflict points and allow unrestricted access to the QEW. “
While diverging diamond junctions will be new to drivers in Ontario, they have been used elsewhere, such as the US, for years. There are currently two diverging diamond hubs in Canada, one in Calgary and the other in Regina.
The Ontario government is hosting an in-person public education session to learn “how to navigate” the new exchange.
It will be held on September 7th at the Hilton Garden Inn between 2:00pm and 4:00pm and 5:00pm and 7:00pm
An animated video will be posted online at that time for those unable to attend.
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