Paul NelsonChannel 2 News
The intersection at U.S. 395 and Moana Lane looks pretty typical now. The problem is 20,000 cars pass through it every day and the amount of traffic can make it more congested and time consuming.
That's why the Regional Transportation Commission and Nevada Department of Transportation are looking at what's called a diverging diamond interchange or DDI. It's a concept used by about a dozen other states.
It has seen good reviews in those states, but NDOT agrees it might be confusing at first.
"If you're heading west, you're basically going to go into the eastbound lanes. The opposite direction then diverge back into the westbound lanes. Vice versa on the other way," NDOT spokesman Scott Magruder explains.
NDOT tells us this might be the most efficient way to get traffic through the area.
There is only one traffic signal, so once you get through the intersection you won't have to stop for another light like you do now. This change could save gas and create less pollution.
"You have a single point allowing traffic to go from point A to B, instead of A-B-C," Magruder explains.
NDOT officials say a diverging diamond interchange is actually pretty simple once you get used to it. Plus, they think it is safer for both pedestrians and drivers.
"If there's a crash, it's going to be very minor," Magruder says. "Kind of like a roundabout. We don't feel you're going to have a high-speed collision under here, just the way traffic is."
We showed computer-animated video of the proposed interchange to people. As you might imagine, we got some mixed reactions.
"Why can't we just go straight and then turn left or right?" Reno resident Susan Hallahan asked. "I'm not a fan of roundabouts and that looks a little bit like a roundabout. I think they're confusing, so I don't like it."
"Not having ever driven it, right now, it looks great," Truckee Resident Becky Hibit said.
The project will cost more than $4 million with construction starting November, when the road widening project along Moana Lane is almost complete. The interchange project should be done by the end of 2013.
"Once people see how you can really move traffic through this very busy interchange, as well as the widening we're working with RTC on. This is going to function a lot better," Magruder said.
