Diverging diamond 'fully operational'

The diverging diamond interchange at Interstate 75 and University Parkway is in full driving condition.

The Florida of Transportation today announced the interchange, the first of its kind in the state, is fully operational with all 12 lanes of University Parkway open to traffic.

FDOT Secretary Mike Dew said he is pleased the task was finished before the 2017 World Rowing Championships at Nathan Benderson Park in September.

“The new interchange will significantly benefit the residents of Sarasota and Manatee counties as well as the millions of visitors who will come to see this beautiful area of our state,” Dew said in a statement.

FDOT’s contractor, Prince Contracting LLC, met its contractual obligations to have the interchange fully functional in July but crews will continue working on the final construction tasks involving the installation of the final layer of asphalt and roadway lane striping. Those jobs will be performed overnight.

Construction will be suspended for the rowing championships Sept. 16 through Oct. 3. A landscape beautification project at the interchange will begin in spring 2018.