Knowledge Resources

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has announced a new traffic management system called the Flex Route that will soon be in operation on US-23 between M-14 and M-36, just north of Ann Arbor.

The Flex Route is a lane control system comprised of overhead signs, cameras, and electronic dynamic message signs (DMS). The new system opens the inside median shoulder to traffic during peak periods, such as morning and afternoon rush hours, and during special events and incidents when traffic volumes are heavier.

• A green arrow on the overhead signs will indicate when the median shoulder is safely available for use.
• A red X will indicate when the shoulder is closed and not for use as an additional lane.

The dynamic message signs will display estimated journey times and other information, while the overhead signage will show variable speed limits. The system will be maintained around-the-clock by MDOT's Statewide Operations Center (STOC) based in Lansing.

During incidents, motorists can see up to a 50 percent savings in travel time when the Flex Route is open and operating. Additionally, having the Flex Route in operation is expected to reduce the number of secondary crashes.

Looking further down the road, MDOT says that Flex Route will provide the communications backbone to support connected autonomous vehicles (CAV) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) technology.