The Michigan Department of Transportation is planning to extend its only flex route in the state.
What is a flex route?
“The flex route system is a lane control system they use with cameras and electronic message boards to let drivers know when an additional lane is available for use during peak hours,” said department spokesperson Aaron Jenkins.
The flex route on U.S. 23 north of Ann Arbor opens an extra lane on the shoulder during peak traffic times for about two-thirds of the distance to Brighton. Now the Department of Transportation plans to add to it.
“We're extending the flex route to I-96 to help accommodate the traffic between I-96 and M-14,” Jenkins explained.
The design stage starts this fall and the construction in early 2023. First, though, the state is looking for public input. A virtual public meeting is being held Monday. Jenkins says they’ve been getting about five times as much participation since holding the online meetings.
“We'd like to get as much participation from the drivers as we can so that we can make sure that it's the best flex route that it can possibly be,” he said.
The meeting on Monday begins at 3 p.m. here.
