An intersection improvement project is beginning Monday on Memorial Drive in south Tulsa.
The project will improve the U.S. 169 and Creek Turnpike interchange, constructing eastern Oklahoma's first diverging diamond interchange. Work is expected to last until spring 2024.
North and southbound Memorial Drive will maintain two lanes in each direction between 93rd St. and 97th St. throughout the majority of the project, except for a brief period when northbound traffic will be narrowed to one lane under the US-169 bridge.
No ramp closures are expected for either U.S. 169 or the Creek Turnpike during construction.
Once the project is completed, drivers will experience a new traffic flow on Memorial Drive at U.S. 169.
New signage, signals, and pavement markings on Memorial will briefly take drivers to the opposite side of the road as usual. The contraflow will allow for safer, un-signalized turns onto the highway or turnpike using dedicated ramp lanes.
Pedestrian safety will also be improved by shorter routes across traffic lanes.
Oklahoma's first diverging diamond interchange was opened in September 2020 in Elk City.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation says diverging diamonds interchanges can improve traffic flow and safety in the following ways:
- DDIs create safer, less congested intersections.
- DDIs allow for fewer conflict (collision) points.
- DDIs give drivers better sight distance at turns.
- DDI pedestrian crossings are shorter.
- DDIs aim to eliminate left turns across traffic and thereby increase safety.
- DDIs give "free-flowing" or simple left- and right-hand turns from all directions.
- Wrong-way entry to ramps becomes extremely difficult.