Diverging Diamonds

We loaded the RV and turned north to enjoy spring break with our son, DIL and our two grandkids, and to take a break from yard/house work and projects ourselves. They are flying into NC to spend a week in Asheville, which is less than an hour from our camping oasis near Lake Lure (now that the road is open*!)

We generally skirt Jacksonville by taking Rt 301 from Ocala north, crossing I-10 and going through Eulee, FL to get to I-95 north. This year we were greeted by a new (and improved?) interchange to get onto I-95. They have constructed a Diverging Diamond Intersection here.  I think of it as 'Chris-cross applesauce'! 

Instead of the right lane staying to the right, the two lanes swap positions. Here's an Apple map view of a DDI that was constructed near Ft Myers. When we used to live there we tried to avoid this intersection at all costs....even before they began construction. After 4 1/2 painful years (delays caused by Covid, supply chain issues, hurricanes, etc) that intersection is finally complete and traffic is flowing, as is the one we traversed in Eulee.

According to Mr. Albert "I"n- stein, a DDI can increase traffic capacity by 33 1/3%

I guess that makes the construction phase worth it

* Hwy 74A between Chimney Rock and Bat Cave, NC has been closed since the 2024 raging flood waters of Hurricane Helene ran amok through the gorge, wiping out bridges, roads, shops, cars, and homes as well as denuding the beautiful tree-lined mountain sides leaving a boulder-strewn field in its wake. The new road opened last week...just in time for our visit! 

 

Four and Twenty....

As I went to visit my father I was stopped at this intersection.

The birds were all lined up,
pretty birds all in a row!

(I apologize for the lousy picture but I was
trying to hurry before the light turned,
and of course, my phone camera was
not reacting as quickly as I'd like!)

Why?
They weren't at any other intersection.
A puzzle for which I will never have an answer!

But, despite my inclination to make pies at this time of year,
these little guys will be safe!
No four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie at our house!