Diamond interchanges serve as critical links between roadway facilities of two different classifications: freeways and surface street systems. Thus, the operation of a diamond interchange can affect or be affected by the location, design, and operation of adjacent traffic signals and ramps. Especially during peak traffic conditions, inefficient operation of a diamond interchange and adjacent traffic signals may cause either system to become a bottleneck, downgrading not just the capacity of the interchange, but also that of the arterial and in some cases even the capacity of the freeway ramps. In many cases, the already complex nature of traffic flow through a diamond-interchange and adjacent traffic-signal system is further complicated by weaving and queuing caused by traffic movements to and from offices, shopping malls, and gas stations located in the vicinity of the interchange. (Author/publisher)
Abstract