To accommodate the growth led by large commercial and residential developments on the Manatee/Sarasota County line, Florida DOT constructed its first diverging diamond interchange. And they went big—their first in the state is also the largest in the nation with six lanes in each direction. An accelerated timeline was necessary to complete the project before the 2017 World Rowing Championships. To cut construction time, the agency built a temporary bridge that allowed for the demolition and reconstruction of the existing bridges without reducing lanes. Florida DOT also utilized an adaptive signal system to minimize delays at each intersection by constantly measuring the number of vehicles queued in each lane.
Since opening, commuters using this interchange have experienced a 40 percent reduction in travel delays, a reduction in vehicular crashes up to 50 percent by decreasing the number of conflict points, and enhanced mobility.
America's Transportation Awards 