Whitmer, Dingell, Stevens tour Novi construction site

NOVI — Spring has officially sprung as Michigan’s unofficial orange state “flowers” — construction barrels — are in full bloom.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, along with U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell and Haley Stevens, and Michigan Department of Transportation acting Director Brad Wieferich, kicked off this construction season with a tour of a construction site at Interstate 96 and Beck Road in Novi on Tuesday, April 11. The site is part of the I-96 flex route project in Oakland County.

“This is an exciting project,” Whitmer said. “This flex lane, I think we’re going to see, it’s really going to improve the quality of life and safety in this business corridor.”

This will be the second flex route that the state has implemented; the first runs along U.S. 23 between M-14 and M-36 in Washtenaw County. The new flex route will go from Kent Lake Road to the Interstate 275/Interstate 696/M-5 interchange. It will feature intermittent shoulder use as lanes and ramp metering at eight ramps within the project limits, according to the state website.

An active traffic management system will be installed as well. The system will post variable speed advisories and traveler information using electronic message boards that will be positioned along the route. The median shoulders will be rebuilt to be used as additional lanes during peak travel periods, special events, maintenance activities, and incidents or crashes, the website states.