The flex lanes of US Route 23 between Ann Arbor and Brighton

The flex lane corridor of US Route 23 in Michigan exists on the freeway segment between Ann Arbor and Brighton. The flex lanes serve as an experimental temporary third lane only during commute hours. The lanes are intended to mitigate the numerous safety issues the freeway segment is associated with. The initial flex lanes opened between Ann Arbor and Whitmore Lake in 2017. Construction broke ground on a corridor extension north to Brighton in 2023.

Part 1; the history of the US Route 23 flex lanes between Ann Arbor and Brighton

The US Route 23 freeway corridor between Ann Arbor and Whitmore Lake was completed during 1957. The corridor was expanded north to Interstate 96 in Brighton by 1960. Despite being over sixty years old the freeway between Ann Arbor and Brighton has seen little expansion but has had an increasing number of commuters use it. This has led to safety and congestion issues which have been only worsening with time.

During November 2016 a $92,000,000 improvement project between Ann Arbor and Whitmore Lake began. The improvements consisted of reconstructing the antiquated freeway ramps and adding part-time interior shoulder flex lanes. The project zone was completed, and the flex lanes made functional during November 2017. The flex lanes were opened to commuter traffic during the hours of 6 AM-9 AM and 4 PM-7 PM Monday-Friday.

An extension of the US Route 23 flex lanes north of M-36 in Whitmore Lake to Interstate 96 in Brighton was announced during July 2020. The flex lane extension north to Interstate 96 was priced an estimated $150,000,000 and also include the reconstruction of numerous antiquated freeway ramps. The corridor would break ground during 2023 and is ongoing as of the publishing of this blog.

Part 2; scenes along the flex lanes of US Route 23 between Ann Arbor and Whitmore Lake

Below northbound US Route 23 can be seen approaching Site 46N in the Ann Arbor-Whitmore Lake flex lane corridor. Site 46N denotes a crash investigation site at Mile Marker 46 north of Warren Road. Motorists can use these crash sites to pull off the travel lanes of US Route 23 after minor accidents.

Below an overhead Variable Message Sign announces the current status of the flex lanes. Overhead gantries also display the lane status along with variable speed limits for the general use lanes based on the traffic conditions.

The US Route 23 connector ramp to M-36 is currently closed so it can be reconstructed.

US Route 23 north of M-36 can be seen split partially to the grade of the southbound lanes to aid in the flex lane expansion to Interstate 96.

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