Michigan Has a New Flex Route Aimed at Lowering Car Accidents and Injuries
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Flex routes use the left (median) shoulder as an extra lane in rush hour. They are cheaper than building a full-time lane and can cut congestion and crashes—if drivers read the overhead signs.
Michigan now has flex operations on I-96 in Oakland County (Kent Lake Road to the I-275 / I-696 / M-5 interchange) and on US-23 in Washtenaw and Livingston counties. Technology still cannot prevent every wreck. If you are hurt, an experienced car accident attorney can help you pursue compensation.
Do You Have a Case?WHAT IS A FLEX ROUTE?
A flex route is a freeway stretch where the left shoulder becomes a travel lane when congestion (or a blocked lane) warrants it. Overhead lane-control signs tell you when that shoulder is open.
Using the shoulder part-time avoids years of full-width construction on corridors that jam only at peak hours.
HOW DO DRIVERS KNOW WHICH LANE TO USE ON A FLEX ROUTE?
Watch the gantry over your lane, including the shoulder:
- Green arrow over the shoulder: the flex lane is open
- Red X: the shoulder is closed. Driving on it is illegal
- A yellow chevron or merge message means move over
- Posted or displayed speeds are for current conditions, including incidents ahead
Follow the signs, not a memorized clock. MDOT can open or close the lane for a crash, weather or construction.
ARE FLEX LANES OPEN TO ALL TYPES OF MOTOR VEHICLES?
Most passenger vehicles may use an open flex lane. Large trucks and other commercial vehicles should follow any posted exclusions and never use a shoulder showing a red X. When in doubt, stay in the general-purpose lanes.
WHERE ARE MICHIGAN’S FLEX ROUTES CURRENTLY LOCATED?
MDOT’s flex-route page lists:
- US-23 (first corridor, 2017): originally M-14 to about M-36 / 8 Mile. Phase 2 flex lanes between I-96 and 8 Mile Road in Livingston County began operating in July 2026, extending the system north toward I-96.
- I-96 (opened for use March 19, 2025): Kent Lake Road to the I-275 / I-696 / M-5 interchange in Oakland County.
WHEN ARE FLEX LANES OPEN TO TRAFFIC?
Typical peak windows (weekdays, when MDOT opens the lane):
I-96 (Oakland County)
- Eastbound: 6 a.m. – 9 a.m.
- Westbound: 3:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.
US-23
- Southbound (morning commute toward Ann Arbor): about 6 a.m. – 9 a.m.
- Northbound (afternoon commute): about 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Lanes may also open for incidents. A red X still means closed.
DO FLEX ROUTES REDUCE CAR ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES IN MICHIGAN?
MDOT’s evaluation of the original US-23 flex route reported about a 17% overall crash drop, with southbound crashes down about 34% overall and more than 50% in peak periods. Drivers surveyed on that corridor reported high satisfaction.
MDOT and Michigan State Police watch the corridors around the clock from transportation operations centers (sensors, cameras, dispatch). They change the signs when a lane is blocked or speeds should drop.
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