Florida Department of Transportation seeks reaction to diverging diamond at I-95, U.S. 1

Mark Harper, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Updated ·2 min read
10
This rendering shows the diverging diamond design for the future Interstate 95-U.S. 1 interchange. Light yellow arrows depict the diamond feature, whereby eastbound and westbound traffic will meet at a stoplight and cross over to make exits and entrances safer, while dark yellow arrows show how traffic exiting I-95 will make safer left turns onto U.S.1. Green arrows show how traffic on U.S. 1 will make left turns onto interchange ramps without having to cross traffic.

Designers are mapping out the new, more than $250 million Interstate 95-U.S. 1 interchange, featuring a diverging diamond pattern, in Ormond Beach, and they want your help.

The Florida Department of Transportation has made key materials available, including a video that will be playing in a loop. Anyone can view the materials and make comments, but those comments must be received by June 1 to be included in the planning documents.

Decades of growth have changed the use and traffic volume of the interchange, which dates to the early 1960s. Dozens of crashes have been recorded in recent years, while travel habits have also changed.

As a result of studies, the project's design phase has led to plans for that diverging diamond, a configuration that will have the eastbound and westbound lanes of U.S. 1 cross one another at two signalized intersections. By doing that, motorists making left-hand turns won't have to cross traffic.

Traffic builds at the offramp from Interstate 95 northbound to U.S. 1 in Ormond Beach. The 1964 interchange is being redesigned to accommodate growth, past and future, and make the area safer for motorists.
Traffic builds at the offramp from Interstate 95 northbound to U.S. 1 in Ormond Beach. The 1964 interchange is being redesigned to accommodate growth, past and future, and make the area safer for motorists.

U.S. 1 median openings at Rosemary and Benton streets east of I-95 will be replaced with a single median opening at the McDonald's restaurant and Dollar General "to minimize conflict points, thereby improving traffic flow and reducing the opportunities for crashes," according to the FDOT presentation.

The project includes widening U.S. 1 from four to six lanes in the intersection's vicinity, while also installing 14-foot sidewalks for walking and biking. Under the plan, I-95's width will remain at six lanes but will accommodate a future widening to eight lanes.

While they are working through the design phase, and must also acquire some property for rights-of-way, FDOT officials project construction to start in the fall of 2027. They say it's fully funded, with actual construction estimated at $203 million, right-of-way purchases totaling $38.4 million, and design costing $12.8 million. A project development and environment study was completed at a cost of $2.9 million, putting the total at $257.1 million.

To share a comment, email project manager Kathleen.Enot@dot.state.fl.us, write her at 719 S. Woodland Blvd., MS 542, DeLand, FL 32720, or call her at 386-943-5149.

FDOT is hosting a meeting tonight, May 22, to share more information about the design and solicit comments. To attend in person, go to The Chapel, 1805 U.S. 1, Ormond Beach, anytime between 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., or join the meeting virtually at 5:30 p.m. by registering in advance.

Correction: This version of the story eliminates an incorrect statement about the I-95 bridge, which passes over U.S. 1.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: FDOT seeks public comment on redesign of I-95, U.S. 1 in Ormond Beach