European design could influence IH-35

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) - Simply put, our local traffic can be horrible.

That's why the Texas Department of Transportation is thinking outside the box to fix some of those congested areas.

One of the of the worst intersections in Texas is where IH-35 and University Boulevard in Round Rock meet.

"It's always horrible no matter what time of day," said Alexus Roach who works nearby.

That's why TxDOT is going beyond the borders of Texas and even the United States to find a solution to the traffic problem.

"If you do what you always did, you're going to have what you already got," said TxDOT spokesperson Chris Bishop. "By going outside the box, we looked at what they call a Diverging Diamond Interchange."

The Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) is a unique roadway design, first built in France 10 year ago and now considered a solution to this problem intersection. The design focuses on turning vehicles.

"It doesn't work at every intersection but it will work beautifully at this one, where most of the traffic is turning traffic," Bishop said.

While at most intersections, cars have to wait until everyone has their opportunity to go, this intersection would minimize that.

"It cuts down on the number of phases in the traffic signals so you can give more time to traffic moving instead of sitting there for others to get out of the way," Bishop explains.

The unique design would have cars cross over to the opposite side, which may be odd for drivers at first.

"People would get use to it but I'm very open minded and love the idea," said Roach.

"We believe it will reduce the congestion, reduce the delay by about 75 percent," Bishop claims.

The downside: traffic cannot go straight through the intersection off IH-35 but with a separate frontage road already built northbound and one to be built southbound, that problem would be minimized.

The innovative intersection would be the first of its kind built in Texas and is supported by Williamson County, Round Rock and TxDOT.

To widen and build a typical bridge it would cost $40 million but the cost of the Diamond Interchange would be a fraction, at only $4 million.

TxDOT hopes to move forward with construction in 2014 and the proejct should take 12 months to complete.