(WWJ) – The Michigan Department of Transportation is testing out orange lane markings in one of Metro Detroit's busiest construction zones, and officials want feedback from drivers who've gone through it.
MDOT placed orange lane lines in the Flex Route construction zone along eastbound I-96 between Kent Lake Road and I-275. The markings are placed on the skip lines at the beginning and end of the traffic shift.
Officials say it's an attempt to increase driver awareness of a work zone and an effort to decrease speeds and increase worker safety.
Now, MDOT wants to know if it's working.
The department sent out a survey on Tuesday with a number of questions, looking to see how noticeable the bright orange lines are for drivers.
Aside from vehicle type, driver age and weather conditions, MDOT wants to know whether drivers saw the lines, whether the orange paint made the lines more visible and how it impacted their driving.
The brief 11-question survey can be filled out on the MDOT website.
The I-96 Flex Route project, estimated to cost $269 million, will see 12 miles of the freeway rebuilt between Kent Lake and the I-96/I-275/M-5 Interchange.
When the project is completed, an extra lane of traffic will be available along I-96, and metered traffic lights will help control the traffic entering the freeway.
MDOT says the part-time flex lane will be open at certain points of the day, including during rush hour and in the case of a crash that's causing backups. The project, expected to take three years to complete, will widen the shoulders and median to make room for the flex lane, which is designed to allow traffic to flow more smoothly.
More information on the project is available on drivingoakland.org.
