Changes to Colonial Blvd as diverging diamond project begins at I-75

Construction on Colonial Boulevard at I-75 has begun on a project expected to cut down bumper-to-bumper traffic. The construction means a new traffic pattern that started on Monday.

Colonial Boulevard is a headache, and there’s congestion on the best of days. That congestion now is made worse by construction.

“It’s always one less lane available, and traffic only increases with people moving to this area a lot, so between seven and nine, it’s very congested here,” said Bruno Roldao, who drives through the area often.

“It should be only like a twenty-minute drive for us, and we have to leave like an extra 15 minutes more,” said Montana Carlson, who also drives through the area often.

The construction also means a new flow of traffic. Before, if you were headed east on Colonial Boulevard, both north and southbound entrances were located on the right side. Now, if you want to go north on I-75, you will get into the left turn lane. It is all part of an even bigger project, one that is welcome news to Carlson.

“Getting onto it from this way was terrible because it’s such a short merge that you can get into an accident pretty easily,” Carlson said.

Adam Rose, with the Florida Department of Transportation, said construction crews are building what’s called a diverging diamond.

Below is a video showing the different ways you can travel through the diverging diamond. You can also watch by clicking here.

While the diverging diamond may appear complicated, officials say in practice, the diverging diamond will reduce congestion and increase safety.

Until the project is complete, Rose said, “be alert, be aware, limit your distractions while you’re in the roadway as much as possible. But follow the directional signs. There will be loads of signs that are all over the area that’s going to help them navigate the way they need to teach them how to navigate the diverging diamond.”

The Florida Department of Transportation estimates the project will be complete in the summer of 2024.