Road officials are advising caution as drivers get used to navigating a new diverging diamond interchange at Powers Boulevard and Airport Road.

“They’re a little bit more different, a little bit more challenging,” said Randy Johnson, Colorado Department of Transportation project engineer.

Starting Wednesday morning, the new interchange will be partially open, taking traffic for the first time eastbound and westbound from Airport Road. Southbound Powers Boulevard traffic will need to enter a new ramp onto the interchange to access eastbound Airport Road. The change will affect commuter traffic for Peterson Space Force Base.

“That will relieve a lot of congestion over there,” said Johnson.

While ramps on the north side of the interchange will be open to traffic Wednesday, ramps on the south side are still under construction. Traffic exiting to or entering from the south will still be using temporary detours.

A diverging diamond interchange is a road configuration that temporarily switches left-side and right-side road traffic, avoiding the need to cross an opposing lane to turn. The original intersection at Powers and Airport was controlled with traditional traffic lights.

Johnson said drivers should be driving 20 mph on Wednesday to get used to the interchange.

A diverging diamond is not new to CDOT roads around Colorado Springs: two are already in use at Fillmore Street and I-25 along with Research Parkway and Powers Boulevard.

The $46 million project is among CDOT’s top priorities in its 10-year plan. The department says on its project page that the new interchange will help with traffic flow, pedestrian safety and increasing the longevity of the roadway.

The opening is planned for early Wednesday, before 6 a.m., to catch much of rush hour. Johnson said the opening should “relieve” traffic on Powers, which Tuesday afternoon was backed up as travelers attempted to exit east toward the military base.

“It will improve the flow into Peterson, definitely,” he said.