Puerto Rico will open its first divergent diamond intersection (DDI) between highways PR-30 and PR-189 in Gurabo in late May, informed the director of the Highways and Transportation Authority (ACT), Edwin Gonzalez.
At first glance, it may seem like a confusing tangle of lanes, allowing you to drive as if you were in the left lane, in London or other European cities.
However, Gonzalez pointed out first hour This is a geometric change that will reduce from 26 to 14 “collision points” in which car accidents can occur.
“It operates in a safer manner and works more efficiently, reducing traffic congestion,” said the director of highways.
How will it be achieved? Changing the flow of traffic, reorganizing traffic lights and points where a person can travel.
Learn about two examples of a drive through divergent diamond intersection (DDI) between Highways PR-30 and PR-189 in Gurabo. (supply)
According to a literature created by the act, DDI is “crossing traffic flow in the opposite direction of the highway on a temporary basis to facilitate left turns to and from the highway.”
The first DDI was built in 2009 in Springfield, Missouri, and 99 of these have since been built in the United States.
Here, on the island, this new way of driving was pioneered by experts from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez campus, and other government agencies. Construction on both PR-30 and PR-189 in Gurabo has been confined to the area for several months now.
“It’s not something that can be done anywhere. The specific location helped create this type of intersection. The Federal Highway Administration was consulted and they gave the go-ahead.”
Gonzalez explained that “now, at the end of May,[the DDI]is going to open with drones doing all of the lane operations. There will be people working there to guide the public. For now, In late June, early July, it will be fully open to traffic, without the drones, and for full operation of this DDI.
The manager acknowledged that driving through the intersection can be confusing. He added that, for this reason, the Mayagüez campus built a driving simulator for DDI. Furthermore, he remarked that there would be several traffic signals in the area that would guide the driver.
Regarding the simulator, Gonzalez indicated that he had already been to the Las Catalinas Shopping Center, Caguas, and to the University of Turabo so that area residents could learn what the changes would be.
In addition, he explained that it will be taken to the Plaza Las Americas shopping center in Hato Rey between June 8 and 10, so that drivers can have the experience and learn to drive via DDI.
With the use of this simulator, the Mayagüez professors who collaborated on the project, Didier M. Valdés and Alberto M. Figueroa, focused on “data collection through surveys to know the responses of participants to different scenarios within the DDI and the educational component”. Let’s concentrate. , where they were explained how to handle this type of intersection”, indicates the pamphlet of the act.
