It's the first diverging diamond interchange in New York state, and it opened this morning at the intersection of South Winton Road and Interstate 590.
Pittsford resident MaryLu Gleeson uses the I-590 and Winton Road interchange regularly, and she says it was scary in the pattern before the switch to the diverging diamond.
"First off, you can sit there for a very long time to make a turn, you make the turn and you see idiots are all in a hurry to get home or get to work," Gleeson says.
DOT spokesperson Lori Maher says it's something most people have never experienced, and they may be a little apprehensive.
"When you approach the traffic light, you go,” she said. “When you see a red light you go. It's really, really simple. The pavement markers will be there, and it will really be free flow, and we have confidence this is really going to ease traffic.”
The DOT says the diverging diamond will create dedicated turning lanes, ease congestion, make room for cyclists and pedestrians, and improve the overall safety of the intersection.
It's something Fairport resident John Marcaitis is happy about. Turning left is one of his biggest concerns.
"I think that's going to be a huge improvement as far as that intersection is concerned,” he said. “Anything that you can do to relieve the risk that you're going to take making that type of turn is only going to help.”
The work on the area isn't scheduled to be fully completed until October, and there will be more lane closings between now and then.
It's the first diverging diamond interchange in New York state, and it opened this morning at the intersection of South Winton Road and Interstate 590.
Pittsford resident MaryLu Gleeson uses the I-590 and Winton Road interchange regularly, and she says it was scary in the pattern before the switch to the diverging diamond.
"First off, you can sit there for a very long time to make a turn, you make the turn and you see idiots are all in a hurry to get home or get to work," Gleeson says.
DOT spokesperson Lori Maher says it's something most people have never experienced, and they may be a little apprehensive.
"When you approach the traffic light, you go,” she said. “When you see a red light you go. It's really, really simple. The pavement markers will be there, and it will really be free flow, and we have confidence this is really going to ease traffic.”
The DOT says the diverging diamond will create dedicated turning lanes, ease congestion, make room for cyclists and pedestrians, and improve the overall safety of the intersection.
It's something Fairport resident John Marcaitis is happy about. Turning left is one of his biggest concerns.
"I think that's going to be a huge improvement as far as that intersection is concerned,” he said. “Anything that you can do to relieve the risk that you're going to take making that type of turn is only going to help.”
The work on the area isn't scheduled to be fully completed until October, and there will be more lane closings between now and then.
