Diverging Diamond Interchange Proposed For Creek Turnpike, Memorial Drive Intersection

A new type of interchange has been proposed to help make one of Tulsa's busiest intersections a safer place.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation plans to put what's called a Diverging Diamond at Memorial and the Creek Turnpike, but first they'd like to know what you think. 

The proposed diverging diamond would be the first of its kind in Tulsa and ODOT hopes it'll make this intersection safer.

ODOT said Memorial currently goes under the Creek Turnpike and sees nearly 50 thousand vehicles a day, with around 134 crashes every year.

"We're noticing increased congestion there," said Kenna Mitchell with ODOT. "During the rush hour, traffic will back up to the highway."

So ODOT is proposing a new type of interchange: the diverging diamond.

It'll mean Memorial will go over the Creek Turnpike, and drivers will cross over to the other lane before crossing back to the right side, with stoplights to direct traffic. The idea is to eliminate left turns to make people safer. 

"It takes traffic in a different pattern than what we're typically used to," Mitchell said. "In order to go forward, you'll go to the left side and back to the right side."

"Driving through them is a little scary at first, but once you go through it, you never have to make a turn," said Les Burgard. 

Burgard is from Springfield, where the first the diverging diamond interchange was introduced in the US in 2009. Now, he said they're all over Missouri and they work great.

"Now, they'll come to a stop where the intersection crosses over and they'll continually flow," said Burgard. 

ODOT wants people to fill out a survey to see what they think. Construction could start next year and after that, it'll take about two years to complete.

You can take the survey here.