(WWJ) High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes will be opening along I-75 in Oakland County this fall. Do you know the rules?
The Michigan Department of Transportation has released a new video demonstrating in detail how to use these HOV lanes (aka "carpool lanes") which are expected to open by the end of October.
These are inside lanes, one running northbound and one running southbound, newly added to I-75 between 12 Mile Road and South Boulevard. The lanes will operate Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
2023 Modernize I-75 HOV Lanes
Drivers with two or more people in the vehicle (to be clear, one passenger is enough) as well as those driving a motorcycle can use the HOV lane lane during those hours.
Outside of those hours, anyone can use the additional lane.
The purpose of these lanes, MDOT said, is to reduce congestion on the freeway, and improve safety, air quality and travel time reliability.
"Opening these HOV lanes continues MDOT's commitment to modernizing our high-volume freeways," said State Transportation Director Bradley C. Wieferich, in a statement. "Similar to the Flex Routes on US-23 and I-96, the HOV lanes will improve mobility and make I-75 travel safer."
MDOT said police will be keeping an eye on the lanes, making sure they're being used correctly.
Underway this week, MDOT said driver can expect daily lane closures on both northbound and southbound I-75 while crews place pavement markings and signs for the HOV lanes. The lane closures will be done in segments, during daylight hours, over the next two weeks.
These will be Michigan's first HOV lanes, authorized under House Bill 4353, which was sponsored by state Representative Sharon MacDonell, and signed into law by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last week.
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