What’s Up With Michigan’s New Electronic Highways?

It's no secret that I-96 has had construction on it for what feels like forever. As with all road construction, it is a necessary evil as maintaining and improving the roads are vital but can be inconvenient when it affects your commute.

But this time around, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT)'s multi-year construction project has led to the creation of a new type of highway. Introducing the new flex route, a brand new change to I-96 that you'll soon be seeing even more of around Michigan.

Can anyone explain this please
byu/middleagedishalfdead inMichigan

Introducing "Flex Routes"

So what exactly is a Flex route? That's what this Reddit user on the r/Michigan subreddit wanted to know, too. Until now, US 23 near Ann Arbor was the only other Flex route in the state, leading to confusion for anyone not from around Ann Arbor when they would encounter this stretch of road.

A flex route is a freeway that allows for the shoulder to be used as a travel lane during peak traffic times. 

How Does It Work?

It has designated signs indicating when the shoulder is available for use as well as real-time traffic congestion updates meant to optimize the flow of traffic during peak busy hours. It utilizes cameras to detect the # of vehicles in the area and adjust accordingly.

Where Else Are These Lanes?

Currently, there are only two Flex Route locations:

• US-23 between M-14 and M-36 in Washtenaw County
•  I-96 from Kent Lake Road to the I-275/I-696/M-5 Interchange in Oakland County

One more is under construction at the US-23 extension from south of M-36. The I-96 Flex Route is expected to go into effect in early 2025.

Flex vs HOV

I lived in Florida for a while and one of the most surprising things they had down there was an HOV lane, a specific lane that required you to have a passenger in it to drive in. It was designed to encourage carpooling and gave drivers an "express" lane they could use anytime. 

This is where a flex route is different in that it is only available when indicated as available. It is important to remember the flex lane is a shoulder and should not be driven on unless indicated.