A new diverging diamond interchange at Interstate 4 and County Road 532 is now complete and operational.
On Monday, February 13, Florida Department of Transportation and Osceola County officials celebrated the opening of a new diverging diamond traffic pattern at the well-trafficked interchange near ChampionsGate.
A first of its kind in the Orlando area, the interchange offers a new traffic pattern that officials believe will improve safety and mobility by eliminating the need for left turns across oncoming traffic.
Motorists who are approaching the interchange on C.R. 532 will switch to the left side of the road at a traffic signal before passing under the interstate and returning to the right side at the next traffic signal.
Compared to a conventional interchange, the new diverging diamond interchange has fewer conflict points, or places where vehicles cross paths, and reduces the potential for collisions.
The new pattern also reduces the number of traffic signal phases, enabling more cars to travel through the interchange.
In addition to the traffic pattern change, the county and FDOT officials celebrated the addition of bike lanes, crosswalks, and new sidewalks along C.R. 532 for bicyclists and pedestrians.