The Government of Alberta is seeking the public’s participation on how best to prepare for the future of Highway 16 between Highway 779 and Anthony Henday Drive west of Edmonton. The plan is to eventually widen the highway to six, then eight lanes.
This project will include the reconfiguring and reconstruction of a number of interchanges along the route, and could include a first for the Edmonton area: the diverging diamond interchange (DDI).
A diverging diamond has the opposing directions of travel on the non-freeway road cross each other on either side of the interchange. Right-hand traffic briefly drives on the left in the middle of the interchange, then crosses back over to the right at the other side. Freeway traffic passing over or under the DDI is unaffected.
Diverging diamond interchanges achieve more efficient and safer traffic flow, as left turns no longer have to cross oncoming traffic. The only movement allowed at the intersections at each end of the DDI its for through traffic to cross over to the other side of the road: no turns are permitted or necessary.
There will be a public open house on June 12 5pm to 7pm at Parkland Village Community Centre—#60 53222 RR 272—in Spruce Grove. The planning study can be found here.
