The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) opened a new diverging diamond interchange (DDI) at Interstate 4 (I-4) and Daryl Carter Parkway — a milestone for safety, traffic flow, and connectivity in Orlando’s busy tourism corridor.

The three new ramps that connect to the existing overpass on Daryl Carter Parkway to I-4 were opened July 19. The new interchange is I-4 Exit 70.

This spring, FDOT converted the Daryl Carter Parkway overpass to a diverging diamond traffic pattern to prepare for the new interchange. With three new ramps connecting directly to Daryl Carter Parkway, drivers on both eastbound and westbound I-4 have easy access to Daryl Carter Parkway from two new exit ramps, and motorists can also get onto eastbound I-4 right from Daryl Carter Parkway. A westbound I-4 entrance ramp will be constructed in the future.

The innovative DDI design briefly moves traffic on Daryl Carter Parkway to the left side of the roadway at a traffic signal, then back to the right side at a second signal, eliminating left turns across oncoming traffic. Compared to a conventional interchange, this design:

• cuts the risk of crashes in half by eliminating those potential conflict points between vehicles; and
• reduces the traffic signal phases from four to two, cutting drivers’ wait times at the red light and allowing nearly double the number of vehicles to pass through the interchange in the same amount of time.

The new interchange also has enhanced pedestrian safety features including new bicycle lanes, sidewalks protected by concrete barriers, and crosswalks.

For more information about the new interchange, watch the video about the project here, and visit i4Beyond.com/DarylCarter.