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question, though Sarasota County over the past three years has been putting in place an Advanced Traffic Management System that facilitates traffic flow. For McHale, there is another benefit to the changes besides keeping vehicles moving smoothly. "The dynamic of the area will help the economy." A FIRST IN FLORIDA The diverging diamond interchange would be the first such design in Florida. But it proba- bly will not be the last. FDOT is considering it for at least two additional intersections — at I-75 and Clark Road and at I-75 and Fruitville Road in Sarasota County. That has County Commissioner Joe Barbetta worried. "Let's remember the one at University is the first one in the State of Florida," Barbetta said during a County Commission budget work- shop on June 27. "We are the guinea pig." It was surprising to learn that FDOT is plan- ning at least two more of the interchanges without first "waiting to see how it works" at University," Barbetta added. MORE QUESTIONS The layout at University Parkway and I-75 will require the traffic on University Parkway to briefly switch sides. That will mean the two traffic lights will become "two-phase" signals. The Florida Department of Transportation has provided a new video about the diverging diamond interchange planned for Interstate 75 and University Parkway. To view it, click here. Video courtesy of FDOT Sarasota News Leader July 4, 2014 Page 32