All lanes open at I-17/Happy Valley Road Diverging Diamond
ADOT’s reconstruction project provides room for future traffic needs
Posted 12/10/20
Work crews opened all lanes at the new Diverging Diamond interchange at Interstate 17 and Happy Valley Road, some 25 minutes north of Glendale, after additional work to finish construction of the first major Diverging Diamond in Arizona.
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All lanes open at I-17/Happy Valley Road Diverging Diamond
ADOT’s reconstruction project provides room for future traffic needs
Posted
Work crews opened all lanes at the new Diverging Diamond interchange at Interstate 17 and Happy Valley Road, some 25 minutes north of Glendale, after additional work to finish construction of the first major Diverging Diamond in Arizona.
The interchange first opened to traffic in October while work continued to finish paving sections of lanes along Happy Valley Road. The new configuration provides drivers with more lanes on a wider bridge that replaced an older, narrower crossing over the freeway, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
The Diverging Diamond interchange design includes intersections and traffic signals that allow drivers to cross and travel on the left side of the new bridge over I-17. In the Diverging Diamond, which has grown in popularity in several other states, motorists make direct left turns onto the freeway on-ramps rather than waiting to turn in front of traffic traveling in the opposite direction.
The reconstruction project has more than doubled traffic capacity on the Happy Valley Road bridge, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
The on- and off-ramps at the interchange also are wider. There are fewer traffic-signal sequences and a reduced number of traffic conflict points. The Diverging Diamond design also improves traffic movement through the interchange. This past summer two roundabouts at the old interchange were removed to make room for the upgrades.
The improvements are part of a $50 million project to reconstruct the I-17 interchanges at Happy Valley Road and Pinnacle Peak Road. I-17 also has been widened by one lane in each direction between Happy Valley and Pinnacle Peak roads. Work on the project started in November 2018.
Crews opened all lanes at the I-17 interchange at Pinnacle Peak Road in late November. It has been expanded as a traditional diamond interchange featuring more lanes and turn bays on the bridge over I-17.
ADOT’s project was funded as part of the Regional Transportation Plan approved by Maricopa County voters in 2004.
