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The new diverging diamond interchange at Kansas Expressway and I-44 in Springfield was the first of its kind in America. Now the same concept is being applied to another interchange in south Springfield. On Tuesday, work began on the National Avenue and James River Freeway Interchange. KSMU’s Matt Evans was at the groundbreaking and files this report.
Reporter: “Right now, I’m looking over the National and Highway 60 interchange that serves over 100,000 cars per day in south Springfield. Ten months from now, hopefully the second diverging diamond interchange in the nation will be where I’m standing.”
“[It is a] Very innovative design; a design that as far as I know has only been used in France.”
Marc Thornsberry is the director of public works with the city of Springfield. The project, which is scheduled to be finished by August of 2010, will cost $9.7 million. Most of the funding comes from federal grants and the voter-approved 1/8-cent transportation sales tax.
The only completed diverging diamond interchange in the nation is the one at I-44 and Kansas Expressway...It was completed earlier this summer. Thornsberry says he knows some other places are looking into diverging diamond interchanges of their own, including St. Louis, Kansas City, and Nashville. He says the city of Springfield also has plans to put in another diverging diamond interchange at the intersection of Chestnut Expressway and Highway 65.
“[It’s] Very cost effective and so far we’ve been really happy with the way it moves traffic up north.”
Thornsberry also says that the Missouri Department of Transportation has had a lot of positive feedback from drivers who have used the I-44 and Kansas interchange. Drivers will need to be patient during the construction of the new interchange at National and the James River Freeway. Thornsberry urges people to avoid the interchange if possible until the project is completed.
For KSMU News, I’m Matt Evans.
