Councilman Fought has some concerns about the proposed diverging diamond intersection at Williams Drive and I35. From his newsletter:
"1. The "diverging diamond" supposedly speeds up traffic through the intersection; however, the end-point of our intersection is a "T" intersection, not a through street as in Round Rock. So what speeds up through the intersection would get piled up at Austin Avenue. That makes no sense to me, and I don't see how the design, even with the through-lane northbound on Austin Avenue, deals with the issue.
2. We lose the northbound access road that runs parallel to IH-35. Access roads are a bail-out option for traffic jams/accidents on the interstate and are a staple for drivers who do not want to brave the wilds on the Interstate when traveling short distances.
3. I have yet to receive a satisfactory answer to what happens to the intersection when the power goes out -- as it will from time to time for various reasons. The proposed diamond intersection is quite complex and heavily dependent on multiple well-timed and coordinated traffic lights. "Lights out" looks to be a recipe for mass confusion.
4. I don't find the diverging diamond concept to be "intuitive". Traffic patterns should be intuitive. Drivers should not have to guess which way to go, or be "trained" to use an intersection. Counter intuitive designs are simply an accident looking for a place to happen."
He doesn't expect TxDot to respond to his conserns by changing the design and contruction is expected to start in 2020.
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