MIAMISBURG — The Ohio Department of Transportation is seeking public comments on the proposed diverging diamond interchange at I-75 and State Route 725.
The state says the interchange is an area that repeatedly appeared in the state’s highway safety improvement program.
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“The purpose of this project is to address conditions within the corridor that are contributing to the high crash rate and to improve traffic operations,” ODOT said in a presentation on the project. “The project also provides an opportunity to improve pedestrian access in this commercial area.”
Records show the interchange had 219 crashes between 2014-2016 and 90 percent of those crashes were types of crashes that are “often indicative of congested conditions and related unsafe driving maneuvers.” ODOT said.
As part of a 2018 safety study of State Route 725 between Byers Road and Mall Woods Drive, a proposed counter measure for the congestion was a diverging diamond intersection.
ODOT looked at several other options for the interchange, including a partial cloverleaf interchange, traditional diamond interchange and a tight diamond interchange. Those options either were too costly or didn’t address the safety and congestion concerns for the area, records show.
“A diverging diamond interchange allows free‐flowing turns when entering an interstate, eliminating the left turn against oncoming traffic, and limiting the number of traffic signal phases,” ODOT said. “It is easy to navigate, eliminates last‐minute lane changes, and provides better sight distance at turns, resulting in fewer crashes.”
The closest diverging diamond interchange is at Union Center Boulevard and I-75 in southern Butler County.
The new design would reduce crashes in the area by over 17 percent and an over 15 percent reduction in the severity of crashes also, a safety analysis by the state showed. It also would improve operational performance at the interchange, including improved capacity and reduced delay, according to ODOT.
The public comment portion of the project schedule will end on June 16. Comments can be submitted to Tricia Bishop at 937-497-6721. Letters and comments can also be sent to, Attn: Tricia Bishop; ODOT District 7; 1001 St. Marys Avenue; Sidney, Ohio 45365.
ODOT anticipates entering the design phase of the project this summer with construction expected to begin as early as spring 2023. Road work would likely take about 8 to 10 months, according to ODOT.
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