by
MDOT
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) on Wednesday at 6 a.m. will activitate ramp meters on eight entrance ramps along I-96 in Oakland Country to help motorists enter the freeway flow safely.
"Ramp meters have been used in many other states to reduce crashes and improve travel times by controlling the flow of traffic entering the freeway," MDOT said in a press release. "By breaking up platoons of entering traffic, the need for drivers already on the freeway to slow down is reduced and vehicles can merge more smoothly onto the freeway."
The system calls for the ramps to have traffic lights. Initially, the lights will flash in yellow mode, meaning drivers can merge onto the freeway as they normally would. In the coming weeks, when they go into full operation, the lights will flash green or yellow or red.
The meters work this way, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation:
Form two lanes on the ramp.
►Stop at the white line.
►Wait your turn for a green light at the ramp meter to proceed onto the freeway.
►Ramp meters to the right and left of the ramp will alternate green signals, allowing one vehicle at a time to merge onto the freeway.
►When the system is active, not stopping for the red light on a ramp meter is considered a traffic violation, the same as running a red light on a traditional traffic signal. When the system is not active, the ramp meters will flash yellow and drivers can merge onto the freeway as normal, without stopping.
Here's a list of the ramps they'll be activated:
- Southbound Milford Road to eastbound I-96,
- Southbound Milford Road to westbound I-96,
- Northbound Milford Road to eastbound I-96,
- Wixom Road to westbound I-96,
- Southbound Novi Road to eastbound I-96,
- Southbound Novi Road to westbound I-96,
- Northbound Novi Road to eastbound I-96, and
- Northbound Novi Road to westbound I-96.
