Ontario opens first diverging diamond interchange and people are expecting the worst
Ontario has just gotten its very first fancy intersection type, called a diverging diamond interchange, and though residents may not have driven on it firsthand yet, they are already expecting the worst for the confusing crossing.
With the aim of cutting down on gridlock in the area, the wonky-looking intersection was installed at the QEW and Glendale Avenue in Niagara, and opened to the public on Monday morning.
Based on available images, people seem certain that it's going to lead to a slew of accidents while others are already making jokes about it. And, considering the fact that The Ministry of Transportation had to release a video of how to navigate the roadway, they may end up being right.
Insurance companies will love this
— Rob Cooper (@Brlmkr0224) September 23, 2022
"A diverging diamond interchange has a number of benefits, including increasing safety through a reduction in the number of conflict points, reducing the possibility of collisions, maintaining efficient traffic flows, and has a compact footprint, using space more efficiently," the video explains.
Unfortunately, though the design's purported safety and effectiveness is being emphasized, people are not buying it.
People on Twitter are calling it a "ridiculous concept," an "accident waiting to happen," a headache and more on social media
"I can’t tell you how far out of the way I will be going to avoid this intersection," one person said.
"Where's my commemorative 'I survived the diamond interchange' t-shirt?" another quipped.
This is so unintuitive, Jesus. Cross over to the left side? Cars coming from the right?
— David ☀️ (@wttdavid) September 25, 2022
Half the drivers around here can't even navigate a simple roundabout.
The design, which is popular in the U.S., cuts out left turns facing oncoming traffic both getting on and off the highway, which is supposed to lead to a significant reduction in delays with fewer stop lights.
Cars are able to free flow onto and off the highway in both directions thanks to the fact that traffic briefly swaps sides over to the left, making left turns easier with cars already on that side of the road.
Though it's not intuitive for drivers here, videos (and stats) show how it does make some sense.
Many are still worried that due to the intersection's high traffic levels, drivers' unfamiliarity with the infrastructure and its proximity to the largest tourist attraction in the province (Niagara Falls), there are bound to be some problems.
I look forward to finding out how GTA drivers will turn this into a hot mess.
— Snerk (@SnerkMonster) September 26, 2022
Thus far, early reports state that the interchange seems to be running "pretty well," but it may only be a matter of time before someone ends up driving the wrong way on one of the many weaving lanes.
