(WWJ) Drivers, who have been looking at a red X along I-96 in western Oakland County for months, will see a green arrow starting Wednesday morning.
The Michigan Department of Transportation says the flex lanes stretching from the I-275/I-696 and M-5 interchange to Kent Lake Road will be open for the morning rush hour.
Construction of the I-96 Flex Route started in March 2022.
A green arrow shown on the electronic signs above will indicate when the shoulder flex lanes are open. A red X means the flex lane is closed and driving on the shoulder is illegal at that time.
The extra lanes are expected to be available between 6am and 9am and in the afternoon between 3:30-6.
The first Flex Route in Michigan was built along US-23 between M-14 and M-36 in Livingston and Washtenaw counties. A project is currently underway to extend that Flex Route north to I-96.
Along I-96, ramp meters will be activated soon. The traffic signals placed on entrance ramps help manage the flow of traffic entering the freeway during periods of heavy congestion. MDOT says when activated, drivers will stop at the red signal, then enter the freeway when the green signal is shown. The lights are supposed to reduce stop-and-go traffic as well as crashes.