Frustrated with traffic at the newly designed I-95 exit on Glades Road in Boca? Here’s when it should be fixed

Drivers in Boca Raton may be frustrated by what seems to be mounting traffic tie-ups at the newly redesigned I-95 exit at Glades Road, known as the “diverging diamond” crossing. But the state says that’s to be expected because it’s not yet fully completed.

The state Department of Transportation is raising public awareness that drivers can expect the work to be fully completed by May 1.

“We know traveling through the interchange has been frustrating and are working as quickly as possible to finish construction,” the Florida Department of Transportation said in a series of tweets.

[ RELATED: ‘Diverging diamond’ finally opens for drivers at newly redesigned I-95 exit at Glades Road ]

The redesigned crossing, known as a diverging diamond interchange, needs a few more updates before it’s officially completed, according to FDOT. A lane needs to be added in each direction and additional lanes need to be added on the ramps. As well, sidewalks and bike lanes have not been completed yet, and pedestrians and cyclists are asked to use a temporary path on the south side of Glades Road.

The diverging diamond “had to be opened in a temporary configuration as new drainage structures, curb and gutter, sidewalks and pedestrian signals could not be installed with traffic in the old roadway configuration,” the transportation department said.

In the meantime, those who live or work near the crossing have been trying to adjust.

Kelly Bishop, 21, who lives and works in the area, says that traffic has only gotten worse. No matter how early she tries to leave her house to get to work, or to get to a doctor’s appointment, she finds herself in standstill traffic.

“One time I estimated the time perfectly to get to my doctor’s office, and we were 10 minutes late in standstill traffic. We couldn’t even pull into the center where it was,” Bishop said.

Walker Webb, 22, of Boca Raton, says once the diverging diamond was opened, the traffic tie-ups were instantly noticeable: He works at a nearby Starbucks coffee shop, and estimated it was adding about five to 10 minutes to his commute.

“It was significantly longer every time, and now I take Spanish River [Boulevard] instead,” Webb said.

Steven Schuss, a manager at Farmer’s Table in Boca Raton, says he and other employees at the restaurant have been all right managing the new changes.

“We were pretty proactive with looking at the transportation reports, and we let everyone know in advance that the northbound lane was going to be closed,” Schuss said, noting that so far employees have been able to arrive on time.

Intended to help with the flow of traffic and to reduce crashes by about a third, the new formation is the first of its kind in Palm Beach County. The diamond-shaped pattern briefly sends drivers to the opposite side of the road to help create safer and easier left-hand turns to and from I-95.

The interchange routes westbound drivers to the left side of the road while going over the I-95 bridge. From there, they can get on I-95 south or north, or stay on Glades Road. The lane then switches back to the right side of the road.

All lanes should be open to traffic, and the newly redesigned crossed should be in its final configuration, with all lanes open, by May.