Kansas City, KS

Turner Diagonal Interchange

Client: Kansas Department of Transportation
Our Role: Design

Angled view of two bridges crossing over a highway with connecting on and off ramps, surrounded by green landscape.

Situated at a critical crossroads of the nation’s transportation network, the Turner Diagonal Interchange in Kansas City, Kansas, serves approximately 65,000 vehicles daily. However, the outdated design of the interchange no longer met the needs of the growing community, limiting access to local businesses and impeding efficient traffic flow. To support economic development and improve safety, the Kansas Partnership—comprising the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, the Kansas Turnpike Authority, the Kansas Department of Transportation, and North Point Development—sought to modernize the interchange with a design that would streamline movement and enhance accessibility.

Our team partnered with the design-build team to reconfigure the interchange into a Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI)—a proven, innovative solution that enhances traffic flow while reducing congestion and improving safety. By eliminating problematic left-turn movements and optimizing signal timing, the new interchange significantly improves mobility for both local and regional travelers.

Additionally, the improved design creates better access to businesses along Turner Diagonal, supporting the area’s economic growth. The project required close collaboration with multiple stakeholders to ensure a seamless integration with the surrounding roadway network and to minimize disruptions during construction.

Key Features

Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI): Improves traffic efficiency and safety by eliminating traditional left turns and simplifying lane movements.
Increased Access to Businesses: Enhances connectivity for local businesses, supporting economic development in the region.
Improved Safety: Reduces congestion-related crashes by enhancing signal timing and traffic separation.
Optimized Traffic Flow: Enhances mobility for the 65,000 vehicles that travel through the interchange daily.

Outcomes

The Turner Diagonal Interchange transformation is a major advancement for transportation infrastructure in Kansas City, Kansas.
The modernization of the interchange improves safety, efficiency, and economic benefits.
The reconfiguration reduces congestion and enhances safety.
The project provides a long-term solution to support future regional growth.
American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA) Mo/Kan Chapter, 2021, ACPA Excellence in Concrete Pavement Award for Divided Highways (Urban).
American Public Works Association, 2021, Public Works Transportation Project of the Year ($25-$75M).
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), 2021, ATA People’s Choice Award (2021 America’s Transportation Awards).
American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Kansas, 2022, ACEC of Kansas Engineering Excellence Award.
American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), 2022, ACEC National Recognition Award.