Diverging-Diamond Interchanges Planned For Gwinnett County
02/17/2011 - By Jeff Corbin Public Information Open House
The Georgia Department of Transportation and Gwinnett County Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the Gwinnett Place and Gwinnett Village Community Improvement Districts (CIDs), will conduct public meetings to share information and gather input regarding planned diverging-diamond interchange (DDI) projects.
Brian Allen, director of the Gwinnett County Department of Transportation, said the DDI projects are much-needed improvements that should increase capacity and help ease traffic congestion in two of the county’s busiest travel areas.
“We are pleased with the successful collaboration of state and local transportation with the CIDs to conduct this innovative work that is entirely funded by SPLOST and CID money. ” Allen said. “It’s much less expensive than traditional interchange reconstruction because we’re using the existing bridges in a new way.”
The DDI projects are a cooperative effort joining the Georgia Department of Transportation and Gwinnett County’s Transportation Department with the two CIDs. Representatives from both transportation organizations as well as CID staff and consultants will be available to answer questions during the following open house meetings:
Pleasant Hill Road DDI / Gwinnett Place CID
Thursday, Feb. 24 – 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Atlanta Marriott Gwinnett Place
1775 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth Ga. 30096
Jimmy Carter Boulevard DDI / Gwinnett Village CID
Tuesday, March 1 – 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Gwinnett Village CID offices
5855 Jimmy Carter Boulevard Suite 122, Norcross, Ga. 30071
The new traffic solution uses new configurations allowing drivers to cross over to the “opposite” side of the road, easing area traffic movement. DDIs use existing infrastructure to curb costs and speed up project completion time.
The interstate bridges at Pleasant Hill Road and Jimmy Carter Boulevard are among Georgia’s first DDI locations. There are now five operational DDIs nationwide.
“Relieving congestion has been one of our top priorities since the CID was formed in 2006,” said Chuck Warbington, executive director for the Gwinnett Village CID. “The Jimmy Carter Boulevard and I-85 interchange is a major point of entry to our district and our goal with the Diverging Diamond redesign is to enhance accessibility to local businesses and to reduce overall congestion in the corridor.”
Gwinnett Place CID Executive Director Joe Allen said the Pleasant Hill Road DDI is projected to reduce delays significantly during peak use. The CID is also using its funding to incorporate artistic design ideas gathered from business and residential stakeholders to make the upgraded bridge more visually distinctive and appealing.
“The new design and enhanced appearance of the interchange will compliment the millions of dollars in new investments businesses are making in the District,” Allen said. “This is an exciting project that we believe will ultimately highlight the continued success and ongoing revitalization occurring throughout greater Gwinnett Place.”
