TAMPA, Fla. — The Diverging Diamond Interchange on the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard I-75 overpass is now open to traffic after Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) crews put the finishing touches on it Sunday.
Drivers will drive on MLK Boulevard and cross over from the right side of the road to the left. Traffic will continue on the left side of the overpass and then cross back over to the right side of the roadway. This pattern applies to eastbound and westbound.
The exchange puts the left turn onto I-75 on the driver's side of the road, reducing the amount of traffic lights and giving drivers more access to the interstate, according to FDOT. It no longer forces drivers to turn left and cross over lanes to get on I-75.
But, crews say drivers should still be cautious when driving through work zones and be on the lookout for construction workers.
The new pattern will reduce the number of traffic lights down to two.
The $89.7 million project, which was started in August 2021, aims to increase the number of vehicles that can efficiently drive through the overpass with reduced delays and traffic. It also will support pedestrian safety.