Powers Blvd and Research Pkwy diverging diamond interchange opens Wednesday

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) will open the new Colorado Highway 21, aka Powers Blvd, and Research Pkwy diverging diamond interchange (DDI) on Wednesday morning.

CDOT said crews will reinstate through access on Research Parkway under the new Colorado Highway 21 bridge and remove the current hook ramps north and south of the interchange. The new interchange replaces the former intersection with the DDI and an overpass for Powers Blvd traffic to move continuously over Research Pkwy.

According to CDOT, the DDI increases the flow of traffic by allowing free-flowing turns when entering and exiting Powers Blvd from Research Pkwy by eliminating left turns against oncoming traffic and reducing the number of traffic signals.

CDOT video on how to drive a diverging diamond interchange

To celebrate the opening of the new interchange, state and local officials will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony and community celebration on Thursday, Sept. 29 at 10 a.m. at the West Creek Park in Colorado Springs.

For more information on this project, visit: https://www.codot.gov/projects/co-21-research-parkway-interchange