ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A new traffic pattern could ease congestion in one of Central Florida’s busiest areas.
“As long as we’ve lived here, it’s been a lot of traffic on Daryl Carter, so I’m hoping that solves that,” driver Claire Glomb said.
The “diverging diamond” interchange on Daryl Carter Parkway, part of the Interstate 4 project “Beyond the Ultimate” opened in the spring. Now, it is set to get even larger with new ramps connecting it directly to I-4.
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The project is transforming the Daryl Carter Parkway overpass into a full interchange, adding three new I-4 ramps to reduce congestion. It’s expected to lower traffic at Apopka Vineland Road, Sand Lake Road and Central Florida Parkway.
“The new Daryl Carter Interchange will serve International Drive and the communities of Doctor Phillips, Williamsburg and Tangelo Park, as well as the Orange County Convention Center, nearby attractions, hospitals and shopping areas,” Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said.
The Florida Department of Transportation held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday to celebrate the completion of this phase of the project.
“The improvements are not only wanted, but they’re needed. Our goals are to relieve congestion in this rapidly growing area, enhance safety, and give local residents and visitors new options to travel around Central Florida,” FDOT District Five Secretary John Tyler said.
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On Saturday, three new ramps connecting the intersection to I-4 are set to open, and drivers are eager for the change.
“I’m excited for it, honestly. I feel like it’s going to make my commute much easier,” Prince Wigfall said.
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“I think it hopefully will fix some traffic issues overall. Like, I think that would be super beneficial. I think it needed to happen sooner than later,” Tyler Newbry said.
Here’s how the diverging diamond works: Drivers cross to the left side of the road at a traffic signal before crossing back to the right side at a second signal. FDOT says diverging diamonds can move twice as many cars in the same amount of time compared to traditional interchanges while cutting crash risks in half.
While the new pattern is designed to help, drivers will need to pay attention to what could be, for many, a new interchange.
“Yeah, I could see people definitely getting confused by that, but I’m hoping that everyone just kind of figures it out,” Glomb said.
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The new ramps opening this weekend include eastbound and westbound I-4 off-ramps to Daryl Carter Parkway and an eastbound I-4 on-ramp. A westbound I-4 on-ramp is still in the works.