Here’s when traffic may ease at Boca’s newly designed I-95 exit. Final changes

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.

In recent months, the state Department of Transportation had raised a public awareness campaign, telling drivers can expect the work to be fully completed by May 1. But in a recent update, it announced that the improvements should be arriving sooner, with the final changes being made by 5 a.m. Monday, March 27.

And drivers can expect some upcoming detours in preparation for that: Glades Road at I-95 will undergo a full weekend shutdown from 11 p.m. March 24 through 5 a.m. March 27, the transportation department said.

It said, “Thank you for your patience during the temporary configuration of the Glades Road [Diverging Diamond Interchange]. To minimize impact to the traveling public, FDOT, the contractor, and project team have worked closely with the City of Boca Raton to expedite the remaining work at the interchange.”

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

The state transportation department had said that the redesigned crossing, known as a diverging diamond interchange, needed a few more updates before it’s officially completed.

Since the newly configured crossing was opened to drivers in January, the department said a lane needed 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.