Traffic pattern changes are coming to the Diverging Diamond Interchange in Howland. 

Beginning Sunday, May 19 at 5 a.m., State Route 46 under State Route 82 will be closed through Thursday, May 23, at 8 a.m. for bridge removal. 

The northbound detour will be SR 82 eastbound to SR 193 to SR 82 westbound.

The southbound detour will be SR 82 westbound to SR 5 to SR 82 eastbound to SR 46. 

ODOT is urging drivers to take the detours they post. 

“Last time we did this in the fall when we replaced the westbound structure a lot of traffic tried to find their own route, really didn't use our detour routes. A lot of those local streets became congested,” Justin Chesnic, the ODOT District 4 Spokesperson said. “But those routes can handle the heavy traffic, they'll actually help you save time.”

Nearby businesses like Charles L. Adgate Florist have been managing around the construction but said they’ve had less walk-in's because people don't want to deal with the road. 

“We don't notice it too much until certain times of the day like lunch time and right at the end of the day between 3:30 and 5 o'clock when traffic is heavier because people are going home from work,” Owner Chuck Adgate said.

Even with the additional closures coming up, Adgate said they will stay open their regular hours at the store on Niles Cortland Road.

Once complete, the DDI is supposed to get rid of dangerous left turns that have caused serious crashes in the area in the past. 

“Those crashes over 50 percent of the time create injuries and oftentimes they create severe injuries and even fatalities,” Chesnic said. “It's kind of like a roundabout … it does take a little time to get used to but it’s much safer.”

Construction on the Diverging Diamond Intersection is expected to be finished in 2026.