Ontario’s first diverging diamond interchange opens in Niagara

The first diverging diamond interchange in Ontario is expected to open to drivers Monday in the Niagara region.

The Ministry of Transportation says the interchange at Glendale Ave. and the Queen Elizabeth Way in Niagara is scheduled to open at 5 a.m. Monday following a weekend of major detours.

“The diverging diamond interchange will allow for performance improvement by reducing vehicle conflict points along with allowing unrestricted turning movements,” according to the engineering firm Morrison Hershfield and Brennan Paving and Construction Ltd.

It accomplishes this by reconfiguring traffic lanes to allow for direct access to all four directional highway ramps. This means drivers will no longer have to make any left-hand turns when entering or exiting the highway. Instead, motorists will use interconnected crossover lanes controlled by traffic lights and signs.

The current Glendale Ave. bridge is scheduled to be demolished Monday night.

While this is the first diverging diamond interchange in Ontario, there are already two others in Canada, including in Calgary and Regina.

The ministry held an in-person public education session earlier this month to explain how the interchange works and answer questions.