Traffic Alert - Exit 16 DDI Will Open Overnight; New Traffic Patterns by Morning
Exit 16 DDI Will Open Overnight; New Traffic Patterns by Morning
DATE: Wednesday, September 16, 2026
The new Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) traffic pattern on U.S. Route 2/7 (U.S. 2/7) at the I-89 Exit 16 interchange in Colchester will be implemented overnight. Crews will work through the night tonight, Wednesday, September 16, to the install the necessary line striping and pavement markings, uncover roadway signage, and activate the new traffic signals. In the early morning hours of Thursday, September 17, traffic will be transitioned over to the new traffic pattern and the diverging diamond interchange will be functional.
Photo courtesy of the City of Winooski.
The new traffic pattern will briefly shift vehicles to the left side of the roadway as they travel through the interchange, allowing drivers turning left onto interstate entrance ramps to do so without crossing oncoming traffic. Once vehicles are through the interchange, traffic will return to the right side of the roadway. Traffic signals will control both crossover points. To learn more about how to navigate the interchange, please review the information below.
Drivers should stay alert, slow down, and pay close attention to roadway markings, signage, traffic signals, and traffic control personnel as construction activities continue and motorists become accustomed to the new traffic patterns.
Drivers may notice longer holds on U.S. 2/7 northbound at South Park Drive and U.S. 2/7 southbound at Mountain View Drive than they experienced before the DDI opened. Those holds are intentional and are designed to regulate traffic entering the interchange, balance traffic demand from all directions, and support efficient operations throughout the Exit 16 area. The goal is not to prioritize one roadway or movement over another, but to manage traffic across the entire interchange and U.S. 2/7 corridor as efficiently as possible overall. Motorists should also expect an adjustment period as drivers become familiar with the new traffic pattern. In addition, ongoing construction activities, including periodic lane closures and traffic restrictions, may result in temporary increases in congestion during work hours as the project continues toward completion in the summer of 2027.
How to Navigate the New Interchange
- Approach the DDI and choose whether to enter I-89 or continue on U.S. Routes 2/7.
- Cross to the left side of the roadway at the first signalized intersection.
- Pedestrians and bicyclists use the shared-use path and designated crosswalks to travel safely through the interchange.
- Choose your route again, either entering I-89 or continuing on U.S. Routes 2/7.
- Cross back to the right side of the roadway at the second signalized intersection.
- Drivers exiting I-89 who wish to turn left remain on the left side, allowing for simpler left turns with a yield condition to one direction of traffic and convenient U-turns to re-enter I-89.