What’s a Diverging Diamond and How Do You Drive Through It? [Videos]

The new construction at Interstate 96 and Cascade Road SW in Grand Rapids will be completed late this year.

In addition to being a giant pain to negotiate while undergoing construction, it will be a new type of interchange called a diverging diamond when it's done.

When completed, the Cascade Road/I-96 interchange in Grand Rapids Township will be one of only two diverging diamonds in Michigan, according to Michigan Department of Transportation. The will be on I-75 in Oakland County near Auburn Hills.

What the heck is a diverging diamond intersection?

Besides also being known by its acronym as a DDI, it's a traffic system so complex it needs a video to be explained.

Basically, you drive on the wrong side of the road after going through a traffic light, so you can make a left turn onto the freeway. Does that make sense? No?

How about if I tell you that pedestrians will walk down the middle of it? Still confused?

Here's a video from the North Carolina Department of Transportation to tell you how it works.

I'm still confused.