Address:South Range Line Road, Joplin, MO 64804, USALatitude:37.046543°Longitude:-94.47852°
Go to the lat/long provided using the most recent aerial view possible to take a look at a new diverging diamond intersection that replaced the standard cloverleaf that had been in place for many years. This intersection is where I-44 hits Range Line Road, the primary road serving the largest conglomeration of commercial businesses in the city of Joplin, MO. You should not see the old cloverleaf, but rather more of a diamond-shaped set of off/on ramps. Look closely to see how the traffic flow running north-south on Range Line has two primary stopping points near the north and south points of the diamond, after which you change sides of the road as you drive to the next stopping point, then change sides of the road back to the normal situation.
The local TV station reports that accidents in that immediate area have increased dramatically since opening. Apparently, the change occured this past July. So, in the first six months of use there have been 7 accidents. During the same six month period over the past five years the accident level was one or two in each period. The jump to seven indicates that drivers are having difficulty adjusting to switching over to the wrong side of the road, even if for a relatively short distance. Meanwhile, the Missouri DOT reports a 70 percent drop in accidents at similar intersections in other locations across Missouri. Maybe Joplinites are dumber than other Missourians.
I knew it.
Someone posted a different design where everything meets at one signal in the middle. That looks a lot loss problematic.
I showed the design to a friend who recently worked with traffic control on a portion of the by-pass here. His comment was he didn't have that much confidence in the average driver.:-/
They put in a bunch of these on the rebuild of I-15 through Utah County, Utah recently. They work pretty good but it takes a bit to get used to them.
> You should not see the old cloverleaf, but rather more of a diamond-shaped set of off/on ramps.
Using Google Earth, I see a cloverleaf, with imagery dated 2013. When I go to Street View it shows construction in progress, but I can't tell what's being built.
Where are you finding newer imagery?
We have 4 or 5 of these in Springfield and they work good...until the Branson crowd gets on. Most will hesitate and slow down rather than go 45. Now there are more planned (each a little different) on the main entrances to town.
Oh, and first time caller long time listener here. Hi.
See
37°15'01.14", -93°18'38.60"
37°10'48.95", -93°13'28.83"
37°08'31.28", -93°16'41.08"
Can see where folks would be confused. Why not a Traffic Circle (Roundabout)?
http://www.findlatitudeandlongitude.com/
I found it using the above link. Using "map" rather than "satellite". That view shows cute little arrows showing how traffic is to flow. I had the same problem as you with Google Earth and a couple other sources.
That really helps
I used Google Earth and went to the first location you listed which is where I-44 is intersected by Highway 13, a major feeder route from the Kansas City area. It clearly shows how the traffic lanes work.
Scott
Check out the first location listed above in the Springfield, Missouri area by munt21. This is I-44, the successor to old Route 66 connecting the far Southwest USA with Chicago and Highway 13 which is the primary route connecting the second and third largest cities in the entire State. That would be the traffic circle from #ell.
The DDI can fit within the same amount of space as a standard interchange, and moves more vehicles per traffic light cycle. Animated example.
According to that website, there is a law office right in the middle of the intersection. Now that's a lawyer who knows that location is everything.
I saw that, too
The guy doesn't have to chase ambulances, they come to him.
That is a great animation
It clearly shows how it all works.
Scott
Thanks for the video. I have never driven through one, but I do not think the average driver is smart enough. The increased accidents confirm this. Not sure that the average driver is smart enough for a traffic circle either, but I have seen some that work well.
Hijack: I learned the other day that one reason Germany has better drivers is that it cost about $2000.00 for kids there to take drivers training. Most cannot afford it until they are in their twenties. Not to sound like an old guy, but a big percentage of accidents are teenage drivers.
Scott
I've driven this one a few times and the original hundreds of times. The new one works a lot better.
Drivers may make navigation errors:
Time to update the maps on my Magellan auto GPS device!
That is a great animation
Why use to this form of interchange instead of a standard cloverleaf? The latter doesn't use any lights, so no one has to stop, and it doesn't require the unfamiliar driving-on-the-left aspect. Is there an advantage in land acquisition or construction costs?
I was employed at MoDOT when they first started looking at the Diverging Diamond interchanges back in the late 1990's. We looked at many different ideas and all had better accident rates (meaning fewer) than the traditional diamond or cloverleaf interchanges.
They fit in the same space and move more traffic so the cost of building one is much cheaper. In most cases they can use the bridges in place and just rework the curb and gutter to direct traffic. There are less traffic lights and fewer places where traffic crosses so should lead to fewer accidents.
One Diverging Diamond with more accidents doesn't make this a failure. I am sure there are reasons for those accidents and somehow it will always be the DOT's fault. I haven't worked there for awhile but 99% of the accidents are the drivers fault in my opinion.
I personally like the way they work and I think they are easy to drive. There is at least one in St. Louis and I think at least a dozen of them throughout Missouri in St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia, Springfield and Joplin.
