But, the hopes for it would be that it would improve the traffic flow enough to where people aren’t fighting over a lane,' said Shugart.Ĭlick here to read more about the project. “It’s going to be a mess, just like the one up there on University was, but I understand you can’t do anything about that. The work is expected to take about two years and should be done in fall 2023. Orrell said they’re also safer than traditional interstate exits, because they reduce the number of “conflict points” between vehicles. 'Then, people quickly become very excited about it.”

“As with all things, it takes a little bit of time for people to get used to new things, but once they see what the benefits are and get used to driving it, it’s so much a greater improvement than what was previously there,' said Orrell. There are a few others across the state and many more either in construction or planned for the Tampa Bay area.įDOT says they’ve proven very effective at easing congestion. The diamond pattern, a relatively new concept in Florida, keeps traffic flowing in both directions by sending each direction to the left side of the roadway, which allows for quicker and easier exits onto and off of an interstate like I-75.įlorida’s first diamond was installed at I-75 and University Parkway in Sarasota County.

FDOT will replace the current traffic pattern with a Diverging Diamond Interchange. Traffic on I-75 stopped in Sarasota County, bridges being tested for water danger All traffic was halted around mile marker 182.