Contact
- Claudia Dumont
Project Development Manager
320-223-6530 - Tim Paul
Construction Supervisor
320-223-6546
Construction
- July - Oct 2012
Prep work, install temporary accesses - April - Nov 2013
Construct interchange
Safety
- Sixty-four crashes
have occurred at this intersection in the
past five years
Traffic
- Average daily traffic volumes on Hwy 15 is 32,000; projected to increase to 50,000 by 2033
Partnerships
- MnDOT, Stearns County and the cities of Sartell and St. Cloud
Cost
- $13.5 million
Construct 2012 - 2013
Recent News
Construction staging, traffic impacts
A Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) allows two directions of traffic to temporarily cross to the left side of the road. A DDI moves high volumes of traffic through an intersection without increasing the number of lanes. This movement provides easier access to a busy divided highway.
In 2012/2013, one of Minnesota’s first DDI's will be constructed at State Highway 15 and Stearns County Road 120 in the cities of Sartell and St. Cloud.
The area around this intersection has been rapidly developing over the past few years. New healthcare facilities and retail businesses significantly increased the amount of traffic. The increase in traffic and related safety and mobility concerns led to the development of the interchange project.
Driving a DDI
Traffic crisscrosses at either end of the bridge, so instead of making hard left turns, drivers veer to the left for access.
Pedestrians will cross to the middle of the bridge and walk in between the eastbound and westbound lanes with protective barriers on either side.
Traffic crisscrosses at either end of the bridge, so instead
of making hard left turns, drivers veer to the left for access.
Benefits
A DDI reduces congestion by allowing traffic to keep moving through an intersection. It also improves safety by allowing free flowing turns when entering or exiting the roadway, eliminating left turns against oncoming traffic and reducing the number of traffic signal phases.
The DDI provides better sight distance at turns and fewer chances to conflict with other vehicles, which results in fewer crashes.
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