I am writing to raise concern about the Diverging Dimond Interchange at New Seward Highway and O’Malley, part of the proposed $13 0million Seward Highway Project (ADN, March 2).
Under the proposal, there is no northbound access onto New Seward for vehicles traveling between Huffman and O’Malley on Brayton Road, the frontage road along the highway. This means that for individuals living, working or attending a church, Fox Hollow dome/golf course/chalet, two townhouse associations, a large apartment complex, H2Oasis, and the businesses located in Castle O’Malley, we are unable to travel northbound in an easy, convenient and safe fashion. It appears that our only solution is to turn eastbound onto O’Malley from Brayton, then do a U-turn into oncoming traffic which is traveling at 45-50 mph, just as drivers are about to diverge or criss-cross. What could possibly go wrong? This seems to be ill-advised, inefficient, treacherous, highly unsafe and probably impossible for truck traffic.
First responder vehicles will have no easy access to go northbound (toward the hospitals). Additionally, first responders will no longer be able to use the highway and exit at O’Malley in order to provide emergency services to a church and numerous residences north of O’Malley off of Brayton. Instead, first responders will need to use either Old Seward or Lake Otis.
In my opinion, the interchange has not been well thought out. The diverging diamond interchange will lead to vehicular accidents, of which I hope none will be fatal. I implore DOT to reconsider and replace/modernize the existing traffic lights (traffic lights are not being replaced at Dimond and New Seward) or build a roundabout, which Anchorage drivers are now quite familiar with.
— Leslie Dean
Anchorage
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